De tijd c. 1758 - 1760

This print, "De tijd," or "The Time," was made by Jeremias Wachsmuth. We're not sure exactly when, but likely in the mid-18th century. It's made using the intaglio process: the image is incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The quality of the engraved line is remarkable. The lines are so close together in certain areas that they give the illusion of shadow, but yet so light in others. The whole composition seems almost effortless, but it certainly wasn't. The labor that went into creating this elaborate scene is part of its meaning. Prints like this were part of a burgeoning culture of information. They circulated widely and cheaply. In fact, a print like this one would have been at the very heart of the era’s economy of knowledge. So, as you look at it, consider the labor and industrial processes behind it, and remember that images like this one helped to shape the modern world.