Backgammon Players c. 1630

Lucas Emil Vorsterman made "Backgammon Players" by engraving lines into a copper plate, a meticulous process that results in this black and white print. Vorsterman has used the inherent qualities of the material to create a scene full of depth. The density of the lines suggests shadow, emphasizing the drama of the candlelit room. But it is also worth considering the labor required to produce an image this way. The engraver is as much artisan as artist, a skilled technician who can translate an image through the precise action of hand and eye. Prints like this one were luxury goods that were relatively easy to circulate widely. Engraving was at the heart of the expanding information economy. By understanding this work in terms of both skilled production and distribution, we can see it as more than just a picture. It is a valuable record of the economic and social life of its time.