Allegorische voorstelling van Mercurius met personificaties van Afrika, Amerika, Azië en Europa 1739

Hendrik Post made this allegorical print with etching, a printmaking technique that relies on skilled handling of acid and metal. It dates to around the 18th century. The etched lines create a scene of classical and symbolic figures. But look closer – what's striking is how this image promotes trade and global reach. Mercury, the god of commerce, sits above personifications of Africa, America, Asia, and Europe, their postures suggesting resources and submission. An etching depicts a global perspective through labor and materials. Consider the skills needed to produce this print, which would have required physical effort and specific know-how. It reflects the growing importance of mercantile exchange during this era, along with the unequal power dynamics of colonial expansion. Here we see how a single print involves intricate making processes that connect to a much broader social context.