Hier ziet men afgebeeld wat men een hond kan leeren, / Hem wennende om 't bevel van zijnen heer te eeren 1715 - 1813

This print, made in Amsterdam by the heirs of widow Cornelis Stichter, probably in the late 1700s, is printed on paper using engraving. This was a commercial medium, so we can assume that it was produced in multiples. The individual images show dogs performing tricks, and that tells us a lot about the techniques employed, and the social context from which they emerged. Copperplate engraving involves using a tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. It’s a labor-intensive process, demanding a high level of skill. The images would have required a high degree of control and precision. The repetitive nature of printmaking also speaks to a shift toward mass production and consumption, with prints catering to a growing middle class. So, even in this seemingly simple print, we can see how materials, making, and context are intertwined. They challenge traditional distinctions between art, craft, and commerce.