Gezicht op Zaandam 1725 - 1731

Hendrik de Leth made this print of Zaandam in the 18th century, using an engraving technique. The magic of engraving lies in its capacity to be reproduced. This image could be printed many times over by inking the plate and running it through a press. Look closely, and you can see the effect of the engraver's burin, which is pushed through the metal with considerable force, leaving a clean, sharp line. But the real value here is less in the method than the social context that it depicts. We see ships, which were essential for Dutch trade and the source of much prosperity at the time. Consider the labor involved in the making of these ships and the goods they carried, and the colonial networks they enabled. This print isn't just a pretty view; it's a snapshot of a complex economy, made accessible through the simple act of reproduction.