Hazelaar en roos 1617

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger made this print, ‘Hazelaar en roos’, around the middle of the 17th century. The image is created through engraving, a skilled intaglio process where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The material precision of the engraved lines lends itself well to botanical illustration, capturing the textures of leaf and petal. The technique demands careful labor and control, and the crisp lines allow for detailed replication. Consider the number of steps involved: design, engraving, inking, and printing - each requiring expertise. Engravings like this were not merely decorative; they were crucial for disseminating knowledge in a pre-photographic age. They served as vital visual records for scientific study, reflecting an increasing interest in the natural world and its resources during this period. By valuing the craft and context of this print, we gain insight into the intersection of art, science, and society in the early modern era.