Jongens/ey siet dees Vryasie aan / van Crelis en Maertje van Ossaan 1738 - 1767

This broadsheet, "Jongens/ey siet dees Vryasie aan / van Crelis en Maertje van Ossaan," was printed in Amsterdam by Gijsbert de Groot Keur, using a woodcut technique, where an image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. The distinct lines and slightly rough texture we see are a direct result of this process. Each panel of the comic strip would have been carefully incised, demanding skill and precision, but also allowing for multiple reproductions. The application of color, seemingly applied by hand after the printing process, adds another layer of craft to the piece, though in a slightly slapdash way. Broadsheets like this were popular forms of mass communication, acting as a kind of newspaper for the common person. The choice of woodcut, a relatively accessible method of printmaking, aligns with this purpose, allowing for wider distribution of news, opinions, and entertainment at a low price. In this context, the material and method aren't just about aesthetics; they are intrinsically linked to the artwork's function as a form of social commentary and popular culture. The somewhat rudimentary printmaking process mirrors the everyday lives and concerns of its intended audience, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and mass media.