Inwoners van Benin, 1726 1726

This print, titled "Inwoners van Benin," was made in 1726 using engraving, a process involving carving lines into a metal plate to hold ink. The linear quality of the engraving defines the forms, from the clothing of the figures to the distant city. Look closely, and you’ll see that the artist, Carel Allard, used hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variation, suggesting volume and texture. The print's aesthetic is inextricably linked to this labor-intensive process. Beyond technique, consider the social context. Prints like these were often produced to disseminate information, or perhaps misinformation. They are tied to the histories of colonialism and trade, attempting to capture and circulate knowledge about distant lands and their inhabitants. The very act of representing these “inwoners” or inhabitants through a European lens raises questions about power, representation, and the gaze. Prints like this one remind us that art is not just about aesthetics but also about the social and political forces that shape our understanding of the world.