Wijsheid blijft langer dan schoonheid 1614 - 1616

This print, “Wisdom Remains Longer Than Beauty,” was made by an anonymous artist with engraving, a process dependent on highly specialized skills. The image is achieved by incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. Note how the material constraints of the medium influence the composition. The image is defined by stark contrasts, dependent on the engraver’s capacity to create fine, deliberate lines. The artist’s technique has imbued the artwork with significant social and cultural value. Engraving emerged in the 15th century as a process associated with luxury book production, and the printmaking that followed inherited this connection to wealth and refinement. We can also consider the labor involved in the print's production. The engraver’s skill required years of training, situating them within a hierarchy of workshops and guilds. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we start to challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. The print then becomes more than just an image; it is a record of social relations.