Personificaties van Justitia, Caritas, Prudentia, Pax en Republica 1579

This print, Personifications of Justice, Charity, Prudence, Peace and Republic, was made in the late 16th century by Jost Amman. It is an example of the kind of printed imagery that became widespread at that time. Made using a relatively new technology, etching, the artist would have drawn into a prepared metal plate with a sharp needle. That plate would then be inked and printed, allowing for the relatively quick and easy dissemination of images. This was a transformative moment in visual culture; it allowed, for the first time, a democratization of imagery. Before this moment, visual culture was either unique, like a painting, or available only to the wealthy. With printmaking, the ability to make multiples meant that people from different social strata could have access to images, like this allegorical grouping of virtues. Prints like this were made possible by the rise of capitalism and its modes of production. So, although on the surface, it seems remote from our world, it’s actually one of the first signs of the culture we live in today.