Handelsetiket met een aangeschoten zwijn en het wapen van de stad Haarlem c. 1681 - 1740

This 'Handelsetiket met een aangeschoten zwijn en het wapen van de stad Haarlem' was made by Isaac Vincentsz. van der Vinne, using the printmaking technique of etching. Look closely, and you can see how the etcher created this image of a wounded wild boar, using a sharp needle to draw lines on a metal plate, which was then bitten by acid, and finally inked and printed. It’s a relatively efficient way to make multiples, well suited to commercial graphics like this one. The etcher’s hand is very much on display in this image; the work is entirely linear, giving a sense of the time and labor that went into its production. What's interesting is how the print represents the city of Haarlem, through its coat-of-arms and emblem. The wounded boar symbolizes the vulnerability and resilience of the city. The print suggests an economy reliant on mercantile exchange, as well as artistic skill. So, next time you see an etching, consider not just the image it conveys, but also the skilled labor and social context that made it possible. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images carry layers of cultural and economic meaning.