Bladzijde uit Ter bruylofte van den heere Johannes van Coevenhoven en jongkvrouwe Maria Hoos, Amsterdam, 1723 1723

This page, made in Amsterdam in 1723 by Pieter van den Berge, commemorates the wedding of Johannes van Coevenhoven and Maria Hoos. It’s a copper engraving – a print made by incising an image into a copper plate, inking it, and pressing paper against it. Look closely, and you can see the crisp, precise lines achieved through the labor-intensive engraving process. The poem, carefully lettered, speaks of love, virtue, and divine blessing. But think about the labor involved: not just Van den Berge’s, but also the papermakers, the ink producers, and the printing press operators. Each contributed to this object's creation. This wasn't just a work of art; it was a commodity, a product of Amsterdam's robust printing industry. The poem elevates the social standing of the wedding couple, but the print itself reflects a world of commerce, craft, and skilled labor, all circulating together. This commemorative page is a testament to a specific occasion and a wider system of production and consumption.