Man Lighting a Rocket, also called Peace is Better than a Victory, from Communia Gaudia (The Wide-Spread Rejoicing at the Siege of Namur) 1695

Cornelis Dusart made this etching, "Man Lighting a Rocket," around 1695. Its fine lines were created by incising an image into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see how the printmaking process emphasizes the subject’s labor. Here, Dusart isn't just depicting a man lighting a rocket; he’s showing the work that goes into pyrotechnics, a blend of entertainment and military technology in the early modern period. The rocket itself is carefully rendered, as are the tools and the man's focused expression. This image comes from a series celebrating the siege of Namur. While the title suggests peace over victory, the print itself celebrates the technological advancements of warfare. Dusart transforms this into a spectacle for mass consumption, turning labor and conflict into art.