Gezicht in een rechtszaal 1636

This print, "Gezicht in een rechtszaal," an anonymous work from 1636, was printed using the intaglio process. This involves engraving an image into a metal plate, applying ink so that it fills the recessed lines, then pressing paper onto the plate with considerable force. Look closely and you will see the sharp, precise quality of the lines, the result of a skilled hand using specialized tools to cut into the metal. The density of these lines creates areas of tone and shadow, giving form to the courtroom scene. Consider the labor involved: the engraver, the printer, and the bookbinder would all have had a hand in the production of this image. Intaglio printing was crucial for the distribution of knowledge and visual culture in the early modern period. The multiple hands involved also suggest a division of labor, with some responsible for the design and others for the more mechanical aspects of production. This print reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of complex social and economic relationships.