Vrouw en zuster van Civilis voor Cerialis gebracht, 69-70 1768 - 1770

This print, made around 1669-70 by an anonymous artist, depicts a scene from Roman history using the technique of etching. The fine lines and intricate details were achieved by drawing into a wax-coated metal plate, which was then submerged in acid. The acid bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves that would hold ink. The plate was then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines, and pressed onto paper. The matrix and marks reveal the hand of the maker, as well as the mechanization involved in producing editions. The act of printing itself mirrors the political message. The imagery is stark and graphic, conveying a sense of conflict and subjugation, as the labor of the artist encodes social and political tensions into the very material of the print. Ultimately, appreciating this print involves recognizing the labor, materials, and historical context intertwined in its creation, transcending conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.