Man op een troon met aan zijn voeten een dame 1821 - 1889

This print, "Man op een troon met aan zijn voeten een dame," was made by Johannes de Mare, a Dutch artist who lived in the 19th century. The medium is engraving, a process that involves carefully incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it. The image itself has a sharp quality that comes from the precise nature of the engraving process, a technique that requires considerable skill and time, reflecting a significant investment of labor. The composition shows a man seated on a throne with a woman kneeling at his feet, a scene that speaks to hierarchies of power and gender roles in society. Engravings like this were often produced in multiples and widely circulated, making art accessible to a broader audience. So, as you consider this image, think about the relationship between art, labor, and social structures. The material and processes involved in creating an artwork are key to understanding its cultural significance and historical context.