Geboorteviering van Mongolië; Diamantmijn 1682 - 1733

This engraving by Romeyn de Hooghe, dating to the late 17th century, depicts both a Mongolian celebration and a diamond mine. The contrasting scenes are rendered with incredible detail using the intaglio process, where lines are incised into a metal plate, filled with ink, and then transferred to paper under pressure. Looking closely, you'll notice the stark contrast between the opulence of the Mongolian court and the arduous labor in the diamond mine. The artist has skillfully depicted the textures of fabric, metal, and rock, bringing each scene to life. The very act of engraving, with its painstaking process of cutting lines into metal, mirrors the labor-intensive work of extracting diamonds from the earth. This print serves as a powerful reminder of the social and economic forces at play during this period, where luxury goods were often produced through exploitation and hard labor. It challenges us to consider the human cost behind beautiful objects.