Trofee met timmermansgereedschap 1572

This engraving of carpentry tools was made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. It shows a collection of implements, including hammers, saws, and chisels, all rendered with meticulous detail. The texture of the paper is smooth, but the depicted wooden handles and metal blades are rough and heavy. The tools are arranged not as instruments of labor, but as emblems of skill and industry. Note the decorative ribbons intertwined with the tools, elevating the everyday into the realm of art. Engraving is itself a process that demands considerable skill. Each line etched into the metal plate requires precision and control. In its own way, the print honors the work of artisans. It transforms these ordinary objects into cultural symbols, prompting us to consider the value of labor, and the ways in which we represent it.