Achtste eeuw 1667 - 1672

This print titled "Achtste eeuw" or Eighth Century, was created anonymously, employing a technique known as engraving. This involved using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, likely copper. Ink would then be applied to the plate and wiped off, remaining only in the incised lines. The image would then be transferred to paper under great pressure. The choice of engraving, with its capacity for fine detail, reflects the rise of print culture in Europe, where visual information could be disseminated more widely. Here, that visual information is a timeline of historical figures, each associated with a decade of the 8th century. They’re positioned within a notional architectural structure – perhaps suggesting the grand edifice of history itself. Given the labor-intensive nature of engraving, each impression would have represented a significant investment of time and skill. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple images can be deeply embedded in the social and economic conditions of their making.