Twee boerinnen after 1625

"Twee Boerinnen" was created by Cornelis Bloemaert, sometime in the 17th century, using engraving techniques. The image is defined by line work. Bloemaert would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a copper plate. This is a laborious process, demanding great skill. The depth and density of the lines determine the areas of light and shadow we see. The very nature of the print-making process—requiring a matrix from which identical images can be multiplied—speaks to the rise of mercantile capitalism in 17th-century Europe. Note how this is related to the image it depicts. These are women of the laboring class. We see in this artwork not only the final result, but also the many hours of labor it represents, both in its making and in its subject. Paying attention to these dimensions of material and making allows us to bridge the gap between artistic creation and the broader sphere of social life.