XVI Dat hof is uyt 1614

Roemer Visscher made this engraving, "XVI Dat hof is uyt," sometime before his death in 1620. The print exemplifies early Dutch printmaking with its crisp lines and allegorical subject. Engraving involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. This process demands great skill, and the sharpness of the engraved line lends itself well to detailed, symbolic imagery like we see here. The central image depicts a pig, representing gluttony and excess, with a tap in its mouth, symbolizing the emptying of resources. The print speaks to the economic anxieties of the time, particularly concerning the unsustainable consumption of goods and wealth. Visscher critiques the reckless spending habits that could lead to ruin, using the image of the pig as a potent symbol of these social issues. By understanding the materials and processes behind this print, and the social context in which it was made, we gain a richer appreciation for its meaning and its critique of early capitalist society.