Hier ziet ge ô jonge Jeugdt! veel dieren afgebeeldt: Ey zie hoe elk in aardt, en eigenschap verscheelt 1719 - 1724

This intriguing print was made by Weduwe Gijsbert de Groot, and presents a series of animal images with text. It’s an example of a woodcut, a relatively accessible process. The artist has carved away the negative space around each figure from a block of wood. The remaining raised areas were then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely and you can see the crisp lines achieved through this process, and appreciate the labor involved in manually cutting away at the wood. The addition of color, likely applied by hand, enhances the visual appeal. Prints like this were relatively inexpensive to produce, and allowed for the dissemination of images and ideas to a broader audience. The somewhat naive style of the animals suggests a pedagogical intent. Considering the time and effort invested in carving the woodblock and printing each sheet, we can reflect on the value placed on both artistic skill and accessible knowledge in this period. The print straddles the line between art, craft, and commodity.