Personification of Earth, with Spade and Horn, Supporting a Tree and Lattice on His Head, A Frieze underneath from Veelderleij niewe inventien van antijckesche sepultueren diemen nou zeere ghebruijkende is met noch zeer fraeije grotissen en compertimenten zeer beqwame voer beeltsniders antijcksniders schilders en all constenaers...Libro Secundo 1557

This engraving, "Personification of Earth" was made by Johannes van Doetecum I in the 16th century using the printmaking technique of engraving. The physical labor needed to create this print is evident in the fine lines and intricate details that form the overall composition. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to manually carve lines into a metal plate, a process that demands precision. This plate would then be inked and used to transfer the image onto paper. The subject matter, with its celebration of nature's bounty, and the act of creation, mirrors the labor-intensive process of its making. Van Doetecum's choice of engraving elevates what might otherwise be considered a craft into a work of fine art, challenging traditional hierarchies. The print reflects the value of skilled labor and the cultural significance of both the natural world and the human ability to transform it.