Met eerbied en bewondering, / Moet gij deez' plaat beschouwen, / De reden daarvan l'eve jeugd, / Zal ik u voort ontvouwen 1827 - 1894

M. Hemeleers-van Houter made this print, probably sometime in the mid-19th century, using etching, with some hand coloring. It depicts a printing workshop, filled with figures busy at various tasks related to the printing process. This work offers a glimpse into the world of early printing, a technology that had a profound impact on society. Looking at the print's cultural references, its historical associations and visual codes, it is difficult to determine the country where it was made, though the text is in Dutch. We might consider how the rise of printing contributed to the spread of knowledge, the growth of literacy, and the development of public opinion. The image also opens up avenues to explore the institutional histories of printing, including the roles of publishers, printers, and readers. By studying prints like these, historians can gain insights into the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the complex relationships between art, technology, and society.