Kaartje bij de 75ste verjaardag van Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft 1791 - 1796

This card was made in Amsterdam on the 23rd of June 1791 to celebrate the 75th birthday of Hendrik Danielsz Hooft. It’s an etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The choice of etching speaks volumes. It was a relatively accessible method of image reproduction at the time, allowing for the creation of multiple copies. Unlike a unique painting, prints like these could circulate more widely, democratizing the image and the sentiment it carried. The image itself appears to depict a scene in Amsterdam with a river and buildings, possibly related to Hooft's life and work. Consider the labor involved in the production of this card: the etcher who carefully translated the design onto the metal plate, the printer who operated the press, and the distributors who brought it to the public. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple objects carry within them complex histories of making, exchange, and social connection.