De dwerg Petrus Dorlandus als walvisvaarder, 1720 1718 - 1720

This etching, "The dwarf Petrus Dorlandus as a whale fisher," was made around 1720 by Joost van Sassen. Its primary material is ink on paper, using the intaglio process. The image is incised into a metal plate, then inked and pressed onto the page. Consider the labor involved: from the engraver’s meticulous handiwork to the papermaker’s craft. Its fine lines speak to the skilled hands that made it, as does the text which provides not only description but also satire. The print's depiction of whaling connects it to the rise of global trade, and the exploitation of natural resources. It is a product of a culture coming to grips with its own expansionist ambitions, not only the labor of the fisherman but also of the craftsman back home who produces such an image. Ultimately, this print reminds us that art is never divorced from its making, nor from the social and economic context in which it is produced. It challenges us to consider the labor, materials, and cultural forces that shape our visual world.