De beëdiging van de Vrede van Munster, 1648 1754

Simon Fokke made this engraving, “The Oath Ratification of the Peace of Münster, 1648,” sometime in the 1700s. The lines are incredibly fine, made by pulling a burin through a copper plate, and then inking and printing the image. Look closely and you can see how the even, parallel lines create the illusion of shading on the figures’ robes. The engraver’s skill gives the image its sense of refinement and historical importance. But consider also the labor involved in producing such a print. Think about the engraver's detailed work, and the press operator who would have made numerous impressions. This print wasn’t a unique work of art, but part of a system of mass production. It would have been acquired and appreciated by a wide public. In the end, this reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the result of skilled work, and participate in a complex economy of production and consumption. This connection to craft shifts our understanding, revealing social and economic dimensions that might otherwise remain hidden.