Rond bassin op voetstuk met leeuwenkop 1664

This round basin on a pedestal with a lion's head is an engraving, a printmaking technique with a long and rich history. The lines you see were incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using a tool called a burin. This painstaking process demanded incredible skill and precision. After the image was complete, ink was applied to the plate, then wiped away from the surface, remaining only in the engraved lines. Paper was then pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. The addition of color suggests a further refinement, perhaps the use of multiple plates or hand-coloring. The lion's head is a classical motif, often associated with power and protection. The overall effect is one of elegance and refinement, a testament to the skill of the printmaker and the enduring appeal of classical design, but it is important to remember the amount of work involved in the production process, and its ties to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The material of an artwork, how it was made, and its context are all important to understanding its full meaning.