Toneel van de Amsterdamse Schouwburg aan de Keizersgracht te Amsterdam 1738

This print, dating from the 17th century, depicts the Amsterdam Theatre on the Keizersgracht, and was made with etching, a printmaking technique using metal plates. Notice the fineness of the lines, which are achieved by drawing into a waxy ground covering the plate, then bathing it in acid, which bites away the exposed metal. This is a painstaking, repetitive process, requiring great skill. The etched plate can then be inked and used to create multiple impressions. The proliferation of prints in the early modern period was tied to the rise of capitalism and a burgeoning middle class, which could not necessarily afford paintings, but could collect images like this one. The print conveys not only the appearance of the theater, but also something of its social function. It was a place of gathering and display, where the affluent of Amsterdam could see and be seen. So, as you look at this image, consider the labour involved in its production, and the social context it reflects. It challenges any simple distinction between "art" and "craft".