Onbarmhartige slaaf valt een andere dienaar aan 1568 - 1577

This print, "Onbarmhartige slaaf valt een andere dienaar aan", was made by an anonymous artist. It’s a striking example of the etching technique. The artist would have used a sharp needle to draw into a waxy ground applied to a metal plate, which was then exposed to acid, biting away the lines. The dense and elaborate border is remarkable. Notice the stark contrast between the ornate framework and the violence depicted within the central scene. This contrast really makes you consider the social context in which it was made, and consumed. Consider the labor involved in creating such a detailed print. The time and skill required to etch those lines are immense, and there's an underlying commentary on power, labor and class. Prints like these were commodities, made for consumption within a burgeoning capitalist system. The very act of its creation reflects the world of work, production, and consumption that it subtly critiques.