Bybelsche Figuuren, des Ouden Testaments 1739 - 1786

This sheet of printed images, Bybelsche Figuuren, des Ouden Testaments, was created by Jan van Lee, a bookseller and paper merchant in Haarlem. It is a woodcut, meaning that the artist carved away the negative space around the lines of the image, then printed the remaining raised areas. Woodcut is a relatively accessible method, requiring some skill but no specialized equipment. The bold lines and simplified forms are characteristic of the technique. Each image is a snapshot from the Old Testament, and the artist uses line and tone to convey a sense of drama. The addition of color, likely applied by hand, enhances the visual impact. Consider the labor involved: from the carving of the block, to the printing process, and the hand-application of color. These were all tasks performed by artisans, for a public eager to consume imagery, and the stories that went with them. By appreciating the making, we can see how these prints bridge the realms of art, craft, and commerce.