Odysseus geeft zijn wapens aan Eumaeus 1632 - 1633

This print of Odysseus Giving His Weapons to Eumaeus was made by Theodoor van Thulden in the 17th century, using the intaglio process. Intaglio is a printmaking technique in which the image is incised into a metal plate, usually copper. The etcher covers a plate with a waxy ground, scratches an image into it, and then bathes the plate in acid. The acid bites away the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Finally, damp paper is placed on the plate, and both are run through a press, transferring the ink to the paper. The resulting print has a distinctive, slightly raised texture, and the lines are often very fine and precise. Van Thulden has used these qualities to great effect, creating a dramatic and detailed image. The intaglio printmaking process requires considerable skill and labor, reflecting the broader social and economic context of artistic production in the 17th century. Paying attention to the materials and methods used in this work reminds us that artistic expression is always shaped by the available means of production, and the social relations that surround them.