Vaandrig van cavalerie 1573

This is Jost Amman's "Vaandrig van cavalerie," made sometime in the 16th century using woodcut. This isn’t just an image; it’s an artifact of labor. Look closely, and you’ll see that every line, every detail of the horses and riders, was painstakingly carved into a block of wood. This subtractive process requires immense skill and patience, slowly revealing the image through the removal of material. The very act of woodcutting gives the print its distinctive texture. Woodcut as a medium was closely tied to the rise of print culture and capitalism. It allowed for the mass production of images, spreading information and ideas, but also creating a demand for skilled artisans. This print speaks to the social context of its time, the intersection of craft, commerce, and the technologies of communication. So, when you look at this image, consider not only what it depicts, but also how it was made, and the hands that brought it into being.