Allegorische voorstelling ter gelegenheid van het huwelijk van David Leeuw van Lennep en Hester Barnaart 1741

This allegorical print was made in 1761 by David Herrliberger to celebrate the wedding of David Leeuw van Lennep and Hester Barnaart. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, and then printed. The fine lines and intricate details are typical of this process, where the artist uses a tool called a burin to cut lines into the plate's surface. Ink is then applied, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image is transferred. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, demanding precision and control. The resulting prints, like this one, were often used for reproduction and dissemination of images, playing a vital role in spreading knowledge and ideas. The labor-intensive nature of engraving also meant that it was often associated with commercial production, catering to a growing market for visual imagery. Consider the skill involved in creating such detail, and how the print itself becomes a commodity, reflecting the economic and social values of its time.