LII Soo langh daer wat in is 1614

This engraving, titled "Soo langh daer wat in is," was made around 1600 by Roemer Visscher. The image is realized through the meticulous, repetitive labor of carving lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. It's a process that lends itself to the reproduction of images, effectively democratizing visual content for a wider audience. Look closely, and you can see a chest, a container of value. It is filled with wine bottles, but once emptied, the discarded bottles lying on the floor are kicked aside without a second thought. The print suggests that people are valued only for their utility, like these wine bottles. A stark observation on labor, politics, and consumption, and the relationship between the wealthy and those they exploit. By considering the materials and processes involved in its creation, we begin to appreciate how this artwork, and others like it, challenge traditional boundaries between craft and fine art, offering a window into the social and cultural values of the time.