Scènes uit het Oude Testament 1842

This is a page of prints, made by Jan Schuitemaker. We can see that it was printed in Purmerende. The prints, which illustrate scenes from the Old Testament, are likely made by engraving. This is a labor-intensive process, requiring a high level of skill to incise detailed images into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. This mode of production speaks to a time before photography, when printmaking was the primary means of disseminating images widely. It also suggests a connection to the rise of popular media. The very act of reproducing images, making them accessible to a wider audience, highlights the democratizing potential inherent in craft and design. This work challenges the notion of art as a unique, precious object, instead embracing the idea of multiples and distribution. It invites us to consider the social and economic forces that shape our visual culture.