Bouwplaat voor een prentenkraam c. 1884 - 1901

This print, ‘Bouwplaat voor een prentenkraam’, was made anonymously, using line engraving. A seemingly simple technique, it involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and pressing paper onto the plate to transfer the image. Engraving has long been associated with reproduction and the dissemination of information. Here, the artist uses it to depict a print shop. This has implications for the production of images and knowledge during the period. Looking closely, we see a variety of prints displayed, ranging from pastoral scenes to portraits. These prints are commodities, made possible by the labor of engravers and printers. Notice also the depiction of the print shop itself, emphasizing the context in which these images are created and sold. By focusing on the material process of printmaking and its social context, the artist invites us to consider the broader implications of image production and consumption. The work prompts us to rethink how we distinguish between fine art and craft.