Vers bij de prent van de Zondeval als de oorzaak van de Oorlog en Dood, ca. 1707-1708 1707 - 1708

This book, printed in Amsterdam around 1707, features an etching by Abraham Allard. The image illustrates the Fall of Adam and Eve, linking it to war and death, and is rendered with the crisp lines characteristic of the etching process. To make an etching like this, a metal plate, usually copper, is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. The deeper the lines, the more ink they hold. The plate is then inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The material of the copper plate allows for incredibly fine detail, and the printing process enables multiple, identical copies to be made quickly. This was essential for disseminating information and ideas widely. In this case, the etching serves to visually reinforce the text's moral message, connecting religious narratives with contemporary social anxieties about conflict and mortality. The printing press allowed these ideas to spread throughout society, impacting the social conscience.