Blad H: twaalfde en dertiende praalwagen, 1767 1767

This print, created by Lieven Wouters in 1767, depicts parade floats, each pulled by a team of horses. It's made using a traditional printmaking technique, likely etching or engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate to hold ink. What's interesting here is the level of detail achieved through skilled handwork. Notice the intricate rendering of the floats and the horses. The print feels like a celebration of labor itself, immortalizing these parade floats in a way that highlights both the skill of the craftsmen who built them, and the labor of the horses involved in the parade. The contrast between the detailed, almost baroque, rendering of the floats and the relatively simple depiction of the horses underscores the social hierarchy at play, where animal labor is essential but less valued. In an era defined by social stratification, the print serves as a visual record of how social class and labor were represented and understood. It invites us to consider the role of craftsmanship and the social context in which these elaborate parade floats were made and celebrated, challenging the traditional boundaries between fine art and the crafts of spectacle.