Juli: een oogstende vrouw 1670 - 1726

This print, Juli: een oogstende vrouw, was made by an anonymous artist and printed by G. Valk. It's made from the straightforward materials of ink on paper, but through the skilled technique of etching, a complex image emerges. The etching process allows for fine lines and tonal variations, which we can see in the rendering of the woman’s drapery and the landscape. This method requires a trained hand, working carefully to create a design that captures the essence of labor. The print shows the seasonal toil of reaping what you sow. But consider the labor of the printmaker too, and its relationship to the image it bears. Etchings like this one were commercial products. They speak to the social context of the time, where agriculture was a dominant force. "Juli" invites us to consider the labor represented and the labor required to make it.