Bybelsche Figuuren, des Ouden Testaments 1739 - 1786

This print depicting biblical figures was made by Jan van Lee, a bookseller and paper merchant in Haarlem. It's created through a process called woodcut, where an image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then printed onto paper. The texture of the paper and the slightly irregular lines reveal the directness of the printing process. Look closely, and you can see the marks of the cutting tools used to define each scene. Woodcut is a relatively accessible technique, requiring less specialized equipment than engraving, and we can imagine this being produced in multiples, perhaps to be sold in his shop. The use of such a reproducible medium speaks to the wider social context of book and print production at the time, catering to a growing audience for religious imagery. By emphasizing the skilled handiwork and the material qualities of the print, we can appreciate this object not just as a visual depiction of a Bible story, but also as a product of labor, commerce, and faith.