Personificaties 1787 - 1822

This is a print made by Jan Hendrik de Lange, a bookseller and printer working in the Dutch city of Deventer. He used a printing press to transfer ink onto paper. The paper is thin and somewhat discolored, showing signs of age and handling, but the lines of the print are sharp and clear. De Lange used a technique called etching to create the design, biting lines into a metal plate with acid, and then using it to print multiple impressions. This was an efficient method for mass production and dissemination of images, and would have been relatively inexpensive. The print shows eight allegorical figures, each representing a different virtue or quality. By using reproducible printmaking, de Lange was able to share this symbolic imagery with a wider public, making the art form more democratic. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple materials and processes can carry significant cultural meaning, especially in a world of mass production and consumption.