De dwerg Sinjoor Strïcadus, 1720 1716 - 1720

Joost van Sassen created this engraving, *De dwerg Sinjoor Strïcadus*, in 1720. It is made of ink on paper, and relies on the clean, reproducible line that's so characteristic of the medium. The image shows a man of short stature who is also, judging by his dress and bearing, a person of status. The printmaking process allows for the relatively easy dissemination of this image, and ones like it. Consider that the proliferation of printed images coincided with the rise of a commercial culture. Printmaking was a mechanical technique ideal for social commentary or even satire. In this engraving, the line work is precise and detailed, and suggests the artist's skilled hand, carefully transferring an image onto the plate for printing. The image is framed by decorative elements, reflecting both the artistry and the broader cultural context of the time. Paying attention to the materials and the making helps us to recognize how printmaking democratized art, and became a powerful tool for communication.