Titelblad voor het pamflet: De Napelsche Hengst, Visscher en Pikeur, 1701 1701

This is the title page for the pamphlet 'The Neapolitan Stallion, Fisherman, and Pikeman' made in 1701 by Romeyn de Hooghe. It’s an etching, created by incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The material qualities of the printmaking process are crucial here. The sharp, precise lines give the image a stark, graphic quality, well-suited to the biting satire pamphlets were known for. Consider the amount of work involved in creating such a plate: each line carefully cut, demanding both skill and time. Prints like this one played a vital role in the political and social discourse of the time, allowing ideas to be disseminated widely and relatively cheaply. They offered a visual language accessible to a broad audience, making complex arguments about power, class, and social order. So, next time you look at a print, remember that it is not just an image, it’s a record of labor, a vehicle for communication, and a window into the social context in which it was made.