Dimensions: height 322 mm, width 395 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This illustrated broadside, titled "Dees' bybelprent toont u 't aardsvaderlyk geslacht," was printed by weduwe C. Kok-van Kolm in Amsterdam. It is made using a process called engraving. The image is incised into a metal plate, likely copper. Ink is then applied and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the recesses. This plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the design. The result is a series of sixteen scenes from the Old Testament, each with accompanying text. The lines are crisp and uniform, giving the print a precise quality that belies the skilled handiwork involved. Prints like this were relatively inexpensive and could be produced in multiples, making biblical stories accessible to a wider audience. The print medium allowed for easy distribution. In this way, the production of this artwork is tied to the rising commercialization of art and the spread of literacy in the Dutch Republic. We see not just religious education, but also the development of a visual culture driven by market demand.
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