Welk aantal fraaije, schoone zaken, / Zijn hier, o jeugd! niet afgemaald. / Kan 't u éen. uurtje slechts vermaken, / Dan is ons werk wel ruim betaald. 1828 - 1853

This print, made by Broese and Company, a firm of printers and booksellers in Breda, is a feast of mark-making. Look closely and you can see how the printing process has imbued the artwork with social significance. The print’s monochrome aesthetic arises from the printmaking process, which involves engraving an image onto a metal plate, inking the surface, and then pressing paper against it. The lines that define each figure are a result of the engraver’s hand skillfully cutting away at the metal. This skilled tradition belongs to a history of creative practices and aesthetics, alongside that of craft and fine arts. Prints like this were often made in multiples, to be sold cheaply to the public. The amount of labor involved in the production process is considerable, reflecting wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. By considering the materials, making, and context of this print, we can challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.