Verbranding van de Post van den Neder-Rhijn, 1786 1786 - 1795

Reinier Vinkeles made this print, Verbranding van de Post van den Neder-Rhijn, in 1786 using the technique of etching, a process of using acid to cut lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The graphic quality afforded by etching is perfect for communicating the image's message: a public burning of mail, carried out on a platform before a crowd. Etching has a long history as a medium for disseminating information and political commentary. Its relatively low cost compared to painting, allowed for broader distribution of images, making it an ideal tool for shaping public opinion. The fine lines and intricate details, all achieved through careful work, convey a sense of precision and authority. The act of burning the mail itself speaks to censorship and control of information. The print, therefore, becomes a powerful statement about the flow of ideas and the forces that seek to suppress them. We can see the making of this image as an act of resistance, using the very tools of mass communication to challenge power.