Koninkrijken van de Assyriërs en de Chaldeeën before 1574

This print, "Koninkrijken van de Assyriërs en de Chaldeeën," was made by Wierix, most likely in the late 16th or early 17th century. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, and then printed. The technique allows for incredibly fine detail, as you can see in the rendering of textures like the figure's armor, the scales of the fantastical beast, and the ripple of waves. This kind of print was a luxury item at the time, requiring the skilled labor of a trained artisan. It shows a grand allegory of kingdoms, with figures from mythology and biblical history. But what's equally interesting is the mode of its production – the printmaking trade that flourished at this time, allowing for the dissemination of images and ideas across Europe. This was an era of expanding trade and the rise of a market economy, and prints like this one played their part. The print is not only an artwork, but also a product deeply embedded in the social and economic context of its time.