Kermisprent van de Amsterdamse karrenman voor het jaar 1754 1754

This broadside, dating from 1754, was made in Amsterdam by an anonymous artist, using etching, a printmaking technique. The lines you see are incised into a metal plate, which would have then been inked and pressed onto paper. The process is a cousin to engraving, but has a more immediate, sketch-like quality. Look closely, and you’ll see how the material of the print – paper, ink, and metal – influences the image itself. The crisp lines of the architecture, the cobblestones, and the figures all speak to the precision of the etching process. The cost of the printmaking process would have been relatively low, making it a popular and accessible medium for disseminating news, political commentary, and even, as in this case, a Kermis wish, for the Amsterdamse Karrenman, or cart driver, with the words set out in easily legible type. This particular broadside provides a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural context of 18th-century Amsterdam. By understanding the materials and processes involved in its creation, we can appreciate how this seemingly simple print connects to broader issues of labor, politics, and consumption in the Dutch Golden Age.