Titelpagina voor: Sam. Marolois, Geometrie, 1616 1616

This title page for Samual Marolois’ book ‘Geometry’ was made in 1616 by Hendrick Hondius I, using the technique of engraving. It is a print, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then transferred to paper through a press. Look closely and you can see how the sharp lines define the forms. The texture of the print is smooth, but with a tactile quality due to the depth of the engraved lines. This was a skilled process, demanding precision and control, and of course considerable labor. Importantly, engraving was also an inherently reproducible process, allowing for the wide distribution of images and ideas. In this case, the subject is geometry, essential for both art and military engineering. Hondius’s print therefore reflects a broader cultural interest in knowledge and its dissemination. The print is not just an image, but also evidence of skilled labor, the mechanics of reproduction, and the social context in which it was created. Appreciating the work that went into it challenges any hierarchy between fine art and other forms of visual communication.