Titelpagina voor: J. van Hoogstraten, Minnezangen kusjes drinkliederen, 1710 1710

This is the title page for “Minnezangen Kusjes Drinkliederen,” or Love Songs, Kisses, Drinking Songs, made in 1710 by Arnold Houbraken. It’s a print, likely made using an etching or engraving process. The crisp lines of the lettering and the floral swag were achieved by incising an image into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it. The quality of the impression depended greatly on the skill of the printmaker – a laborious process that would have been done by a trained professional. The plate could be re-used to create multiple identical images, although the plate would degrade over time. It is important to consider the role of printed materials in early modern Europe. Before photography or digital media, print was the primary means of distributing information and imagery. This book would have been relatively affordable. It speaks to a culture of shared cultural experience, as the songs could be enjoyed together with friends in a social setting. Thinking about materials, processes, and social context allows us to appreciate the value and importance of printed ephemera in society.