Aanschouwt dees prent met aandagt al / En daar de wreedheid vinden zal 1831 - 1854

This print, made by Erve H. Rynders in Amsterdam, is an early example of mass media, made using the process of etching. The matrix would have been a copper plate, incised with lines that hold ink. From this, many impressions could be taken. The relatively low cost of the material and process meant that printed images could reach a wide audience. The result is a stark depiction of violence, playing out in a series of narrative panels. Consider the labor involved; not just the artist’s hand in creating the image, but the social conditions that make such scenes commonplace enough to be captured and circulated. The economical lines and stark contrast of black and white contribute to the emotional impact, underscoring the brutality on display. It’s important to remember that even seemingly simple prints like this were made within complex economies of material, skill, and social concern, blurring the lines between art, craft, and reportage.