Interieur van een boerderij c. 1759

This print, "Interior of a Farmhouse," was made by Jean Daullé in the 18th century. Daullé was a master of engraving, a process involving meticulous carving into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Notice the extraordinary level of detail, from the rough-hewn timbers of the farmhouse to the delicate rendering of the figures and objects within. This wasn't just a feat of technical skill. The engraver had to have a deep understanding of light and shadow, and of how to translate three-dimensional forms into a two-dimensional image. Consider, too, the social context of this image. Prints like this were a form of mass media in the 1700s, circulating widely and shaping perceptions of rural life. They bring an awareness of labor, politics, and consumption within a social context, showing the division between the city and the countryside. In understanding prints, like all artworks, we must think about the materials, making, and context that gives them their full meaning.