The Strappado, plate ten from The Large Miseries of War n.d.

This print, entitled ‘The Strappado’, was made by Gerrit Lucasz van Schagen sometime before 1635, using etching on paper. Etching is a printmaking process that relies on corrosive acid to create lines in a metal plate. This plate then transfers the design onto paper. The process itself requires a mastery of craft, but its reproductive nature also suggests early industrialization. Prints like this were often made in multiples, and the scene depicted here, the public torture of soldiers, tells us about the social and political climate of the time. We see the way hierarchies are enforced, the violence wielded by the powerful, and the labor of those tasked with carrying out these punishments. The fine lines of the etching emphasize the horror of the event, a form of state-sponsored violence. This image is a powerful reminder of how materials and making can intersect with social issues, blurring boundaries between art, craft, and political commentary.