Man met ezel 1630 - 1680

This small, undated print at the Rijksmuseum, titled "Man met ezel," was made using engraving, a meticulous process of incising lines into a metal plate. The technique itself is a form of labor, reflecting the economic realities of the time, where printmaking was a key means of disseminating images and ideas. Look at the way the engraver has captured the texture of the donkey's fur and the man's simple clothing, and the landscape. The dense cross-hatching builds up the shadows, giving volume to the figures. Engraving like this wasn't just about artistic expression; it was a trade, a skill honed through years of apprenticeship. The final print is the result of a chain of labor, from the artist who conceived the image to the artisan who cut the plate and the printer who produced the impressions. This piece reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of complex social and economic relationships.