Dit ras van vog'len, dat gij hier, / ô jeugd! geprent ziet op 't papier, / Wordt, als een proef van onze vlyt, / Aan uwe leerlust toegewijdt 1818 - 1828

This educational print, showing various species of birds, was made by W. van Bergen, in the Netherlands, at an unknown date, using printing techniques on paper. The methods of production and materials are key to understanding its role. It is a mass-produced image intended for a wide distribution, likely created using woodcut or etching, and printed on relatively inexpensive paper. The addition of color, probably applied by hand using stencils, makes each impression unique, yet part of a larger series. Consider the labor involved: from the artist who designed the images, to the craftsmen who cut the block, to the individuals who operated the printing press and applied color. Each person contributed to the final product, highlighting the collaborative nature of printmaking. Prints like this challenge our conventional idea of "art," because it existed to disseminate knowledge and entertain. It reminds us that aesthetics and utility were once closely intertwined.