Pad langs een rivier met gebouwen op palen 1610 - 1617

This small print, "Path Along a River with Buildings on Piles," was made by an anonymous artist using etching. The material qualities of the print, its size, and the fineness of the etched lines, were all very much of their time. Etching allowed artists to create multiple originals of the same image, in effect democratizing picture-making. This particular image probably came from a book or a portfolio of prints. The relatively rough and ready depiction of the buildings, constructed on piles, suggests a pragmatic, working relationship to the water. Consider the labor involved in both the buildings' and the image's production. The buildings evoke the physical exertion of construction and daily life; the print conveys a sense of meticulous labor by the artist to capture it all. By understanding the materials and processes, we move beyond the image itself, and understand its social and cultural significance.