Satan onkruid zaaiende 1660

This print, *Satan onkruid zaaiende*, was made by Frans Allen sometime before his death in 1685. The image is formed by etching, a printmaking process where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, leaving a permanent impression. The stark contrast and fine lines possible with etching lend themselves well to detailed and allegorical scenes like this one. Here, the technique allows for the rendering of a complex narrative, where the figures in the foreground are overtaken by sleep, while Satan approaches in the distance. Etching in the 17th century was a commercial process, enabling the relatively inexpensive production of images for a growing literate public. This print, with its religious theme, speaks to the social context of its time. It reminds us that even seemingly delicate works on paper are products of labor, economics, and belief.