Het nieuw arlequinspel / Le nouveau jeu d'arlequin 1828 - 1913

This sheet was printed in Amsterdam by Erve Wijsmuller, using etching and letterpress techniques. The print depicts a game featuring Harlequin, the trickster character from commedia dell'arte. The image is defined by the fine lines of the etching, with areas of color added by hand using stencils. The thinness of the lines speaks to the etcher's skill in manipulating the copper plate, controlling the depth of the etched lines to create varied tones. This print was likely produced for a mass audience, judging by the relatively low cost of paper production and printmaking. It speaks to a growing market for affordable entertainment and suggests the expansion of leisure time among certain segments of the population. The depiction of a theatrical character in a game also reflects the increasing accessibility of popular culture. While it may be a modest print, it reveals much about the social and economic life of its time.