Rozen 1630 - 1718

This sheet of roses was made by an anonymous artist, using a printmaking technique. The method they used is crucial to understanding the image. See how each line is carefully etched? That’s the result of a deliberate, physical process. The artist would have used a sharp tool to cut into a metal plate, then apply ink to the recesses, and finally press the plate onto paper. It is the labor involved in the production process that defines the image. Printmaking has always been about more than just aesthetics. It’s a way to reproduce images, to disseminate information widely. In the context of its time, this relatively small, unassuming print speaks to the rise of visual communication, where images could be circulated more easily than ever before. So, next time you see a print, remember it’s not just a picture, but a trace of skilled labor, and of a world increasingly connected through mass production.