Vorder geschiedenissen binnen Ierusalem 1646

This page comes from Jan Philipsz Schabaelje’s illustrated book, *Vorder geschiedenissen binnen Ierusalem*, printed around the mid-17th century. As a printed page, its materials are simple – paper and ink. But the process of its making is more complex. Consider the labor involved in producing each element: the paper-making, typesetting, printing, and hand-drawn illustration on the letter ‘G’ at the top of the page. The entire book would have been a collaborative endeavor, involving specialized workshops. In terms of social context, printed books democratized knowledge, but were still relatively expensive and required literacy. So, while this book made religious teachings more accessible than ever before, it was still primarily enjoyed by the middle and upper classes. By attending to its making and its place in the world, we can appreciate the intricate web of skills, materials, and social forces that converged to bring this page into being.