LV Te veel vertrout 1614

This engraving, "LV Te veel vertrout," was made by Roemer Visscher around the turn of the 17th century. It's an image that relies entirely on the stark contrast of black ink on paper. The process of engraving would have involved a skilled artisan carefully cutting lines into a metal plate, which then would have been inked and printed. Note the precision of the lines, particularly in rendering the hand, hammer, and anvil. But the material is more than just ink and paper. In this image, the hand is placed between the hammer and the anvil, acting as a surface on which the hammer strikes. This is a symbolic commentary on labor and value. It references the risks involved in vouching for another's debt, suggesting that one's own hand—one's labor—becomes vulnerable to the harsh blows of financial responsibility. It underscores how deeply labor and material security are entwined.