Optocht door de rederijkerskamer De Goudsbloem uit Gouda (eerste deel), 1607 1607

This print, made by an anonymous artist in 1607, depicts a procession by the Chamber of Rhetoric ‘The Marigold’ of Gouda. It was likely made using etching, a printmaking process where acid is used to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and used to make impressions on paper. The lines are economical, but carefully delineate the figures as they walk, the folds of their garments, the faces of the subjects. Notice how the technique lends itself to the depiction of textures, from the light and airy feathers on the drummer’s hat to the taught skin of his drum. The two boys at the front carry a lozenge-shaped board, presumably painted with the Chamber’s emblem. This print, with its detailed and precise linework, would have required a high degree of skill and specialized knowledge. The artist’s mastery of their materials elevates this image of a local procession to a cultural document.