Verdeling van een oppervlak in zes delen met onderaan een vrouw met wereldbol 1669

This print, *Verdeling van een oppervlak in zes delen met onderaan een vrouw met wereldbol,* was made by Sébastien Leclerc I in the 17th century. The printmaking process involves meticulous engraving, and the image consists of precise lines etched into a metal plate, likely copper, before being inked and pressed onto paper. The very nature of printmaking, a repeatable medium, carries social significance. It made knowledge accessible, and it democratized information in an unprecedented way during the early modern period. This particular print combines geometrical studies with an allegorical figure, a woman with a globe. The image suggests a combination of erudition and worldly knowledge. Consider the skill and labor invested in creating this print. Each line had to be deliberately carved, demanding expertise and time. The availability of such prints was made possible by an economy that supported specialized labor. The material qualities of the print, the fineness of the lines, and the clarity of the impression all speak to broader social conditions of production and consumption.