Omnium rerum Vicissitudo est c. 1596 - 1597

Zacharias Dolendo made this print, "Omnium rerum Vicissitudo est," using the intaglio process. The design is incised into a copper plate, then inked and pressed onto paper. Consider the labor involved in producing such intricate lines. The image shows the world as a sphere, surrounded by figures representing the changing nature of life. It is a reminder that all things are subject to change. The choice of printmaking as a medium underscores this point. Prints, by their nature, are made for distribution. They were a key technology of the time. They allowed knowledge and ideas to circulate more widely than ever before, and the labour to produce them became widespread too. In this work, Dolendo turns the world itself into a printed image, commenting on the new order. By recognizing how materials, making, and context intertwine, we gain a deeper understanding of this image, beyond traditional categories.