Nieuwe curieuze snaaken en aardige portretten 1725 - 1780

This sheet of satirical prints, titled "Nieuwe curieuze snaaken en aardige portretten", was conceived by Johannes Kannewet. The printed image on paper involved the skillful application of etching, and the addition of color through hand-application. Look at the linear precision achieved by the artist. Etching is an indirect process, requiring the artist to draw through a prepared ground on a metal plate, which is then bitten by acid. The image’s strength resides in the artist’s mastery over the etching medium, which can require meticulous work. These satirical portraits offer a glimpse into the social and political landscape of the time. It is interesting to consider these prints as cultural artifacts, products of skilled labor, and commercial exchange. The prints were made for distribution, and are products of a specific time and place, made available to a wider audience through the technologies of printmaking. Recognizing the intricate interplay between materials, processes, and cultural context allows us to appreciate the profound connections between artistic creation and the wider world.