LV Virtus liberalior 1614

Roemer Visscher made this print, *LV Virtus liberalior*, using ink on paper. The printmaking process, like etching or engraving, is key here. The sharp, precise lines you see aren’t drawn directly, but rather incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The very nature of printmaking allows for multiples, which democratizes images. Instead of a unique painting available only to the wealthy, prints like this could circulate more widely, influencing popular opinion. Consider the labor involved, too: the skilled artisan meticulously cutting the lines, the press operator, and the system of distribution all tied to the rise of a market economy. This print, therefore, isn’t just a representation of virtue, but also evidence of a changing world, where art and ideas could be disseminated on a scale never before imagined. It challenges the traditional divide between fine art and the broader sphere of visual culture.