Veroordeling van Gerard van Velzen, 1296 1621 - 1652

Experiens Sillemans created this print, "Veroordeling van Gerard van Velzen, 1296," at an unknown date using engraving. This isn't exactly the stuff of high art, is it? The printmaking process itself, biting lines into a metal plate with acid, is a process that allows images to be reproduced and circulated widely. Here, we can look at how the material of this printmaking process influences what the image represents. The clarity and detail achieved through engraving allow Sillemans to depict every aspect of the scene. The texture of the paper gives the print a tactile quality, but the lines etched into the metal are what truly bring the story to life. Consider the labor involved, too. Engraving is slow, meticulous work. Each line represents a decision, a physical act of cutting into the metal. It is interesting to see how a print made with such labor is circulated, and consumed in society. The act of engraving ties together production, consumption, and cultural value.