Chirurgijn 1609 - 1639

This print, titled "Chirurgijn," was made by Marinus Robyn van der Goes in the 17th century. It's an etching, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using acid. The plate was then inked and printed onto paper. Consider the labor involved: the initial design, the meticulous work of etching, and the printing process itself. Notice how the lines vary in thickness, creating areas of shadow and light. This was achieved by carefully controlling the depth and width of the etched lines. The scene depicts a surgeon, presumably removing an arrow from a man's leg. The graphic nature is typical of the time, and the print would likely have been produced for a relatively broad audience, who appreciated images of everyday life, no matter how grim. Prints like these served as a form of visual communication, sharing information and stories through a relatively affordable medium. So, beyond the immediate depiction of medical practice, this print also speaks to a wider culture of production, dissemination, and consumption of images in the 17th century.