Jug with wide spout 1645

This print, "Jug with wide spout," was etched in 1648 by Wenceslaus Hollar. It uses the technique of etching, a printmaking process where acid is used to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Hollar was known for his detailed and accurate depictions of objects. Here, his careful lines convey the jug’s form and the reflective quality of its presumed metal. The patterns etched into the lower part of the jug suggest the intricate work of a skilled silversmith. Prints like this played a crucial role in disseminating designs and styles across Europe. Artisans and patrons would collect them as references, and the circulation of such images fueled the fashion for elaborate metalwork among the wealthy. The print itself becomes a commodity, an early instance of mass-produced imagery driving consumption.