Jonge vrouw troost haar huilende vriendin 1751 - 1816

This print, "Young Woman Comforts Her Crying Friend" was made by Reinier Vinkeles. We don't have an exact date, but Vinkeles was active in the late 18th century, and the work likely dates to that period. Prints like these were often made using a technique called engraving, where lines are cut directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The quality of the line here is very fine and precise, which gives the image a sense of elegance and refinement. Engraving in this period was a skilled trade, sitting in the middle ground between craft and art. Vinkeles would have served an apprenticeship, learning to control the burin, the tool used to carve the lines. This kind of work, while creative, was also deeply connected to the world of commerce and illustration. Prints like these were part of a wider culture of reproduction, making images accessible to a broad public. So, when we look at this image, we're not just seeing a scene of friendship, but also a record of skilled labor, and a glimpse into the world of printmaking.