Kinders wie heeft dit ouyt meer verzonnen / Dat d'ratten met katten den krijgh begonnen. 1725 - 1780

This print, whose maker is named Kannewet, depicts a topsy-turvy world, with mice attacking cats. It was created using line engraving, a printmaking technique that involves incising an image onto a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Here, the lines are crisp, and the addition of color by hand gives it a playful, slightly unsettling quality. Consider the labor involved in producing prints like this. The engraver would have needed skill, precision, and time to carve the detailed scene. As a book seller, Kannewet sold his prints to a growing consumer culture in Amsterdam. These were relatively inexpensive and widely available, allowing the dissemination of political satire and social commentary to a broad audience. The conflict between mice and cats may have reflected social tensions, or perhaps just a humorous take on the world turned upside down. Whether high art or not, this image allows us to better understand the cultural values and anxieties of its time.