Portretten van twee courtisanes 1635

This print, "Portretten van twee courtisanes" was made by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th century. It is an engraving on paper. The image shows two women, both presumably courtesans, rendered with a keen eye for detail. The lines are crisp and precise, a testament to the engraver's skill, but beyond the finesse of execution, it's important to consider the material reality of printmaking in this period. Engravings like this were produced using metal plates, and required skilled labor to create the intricate designs. Prints were luxury items, consumed by a wealthy elite. The very act of producing and consuming such images was embedded in a larger network of economic exchange. It is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward portraits are inseparable from the social, economic, and material conditions of their making.