Reproductie van een titelpagina met grotesken uit de atlas van Mercator en Hondius before 1880

This is a reproduction of a title page with grotesques from the atlas of Mercator and Hondius, made sometime in the 17th century using printing techniques. The original would have been made through meticulous engraving. The image’s fine lines and carefully placed text speak to the engraver’s skill, using tools to cut into a metal plate to produce the design. Ink would have been applied and the image transferred to paper using a printing press. The visual language of this title page, with its elaborate borders and decorative elements, evokes the period's fascination with classical forms. Yet, the printing process itself, requiring both technical skill and labor, was a distinctly modern, increasingly industrialized activity. The "Cum Gratia et Privilegio" inscription suggests that some had a monopoly, granted by powerful authorities. By attending to the materials and modes of production involved in creating this title page, we can appreciate its historical and cultural significance, beyond its aesthetic qualities.