Trofee met attributen behorend bij kunsten 1763 - 1793

This print, “Trofee met attributen behorend bij kunsten”, was made anonymously, using etching and a la poupée. The reddish-brown ink would have been carefully applied to the plate before printing, a technique that requires highly skilled labor. Notice how this image celebrates the arts, depicting instruments and tools like those found in painting, architecture, and sculpture studios. These objects, rendered in the printmaking medium, speak to the cultural value placed on artistic production during the era in which it was made. Prints like this one circulated widely, contributing to the art market and broader culture. The techniques involved in its creation—etching, inking, and printing—required specialized knowledge and painstaking labor. By considering the material history of this print, we gain insight into not only the artwork itself, but also the social and economic context in which it was created.