Boogschutter verspilt zijn pijlen 1566 - 1570

This roundel, made by Wierix around the turn of the 17th century, is an engraving on paper. Wierix used a burin to carefully cut lines into a copper plate, which was then inked and printed. The fine, precise lines speak to the skill of the engraver. The image itself depicts an archer wasting his arrows, missing his target. Consider the labor involved in creating such a print. From mining the copper for the plate, to the skilled work of the engraver, to the paper production, each step relies on human effort. The futility of the archer's actions can be seen as a commentary on wasted labor and resources, perhaps reflecting on social inequalities of the time. Prints like this were relatively accessible, circulating ideas and images to a wider audience. By drawing attention to the material processes behind even a seemingly simple image, we can uncover layers of social and economic meaning.