Titelpagina voor: Dirck Pietersz. Pers, Lucretia, ofte Het beeld der eerbaerheydt. Amsterdam: 1624 1624

This title page for Dirck Pietersz. Pers's "Lucretia," printed in Amsterdam in 1624, exemplifies the detailed work of early 17th-century printmaking. The image was made through engraving, where the design is manually incised into a metal plate, likely copper. Ink is then applied and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the carved lines. The printmaker then presses paper against the plate to transfer the image. Note the texture and tonality achieved through careful hatching and cross-hatching. The commercial context of this print is also key. Dirck Pietersz Pers was a bookseller, and this title page served as an advertisement, a visual hook to attract buyers. The production of such prints involved skilled labor, from the artist to the press operators, all contributing to a booming industry of visual communication. This reflects the increasing commodification of art and literature during the Dutch Golden Age.