Giganten in gevecht met de Olympische goden 1651

This print, *Giganten in gevecht met de Olympische goden*, was made in 1651 by Michel Dorigny using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production in its day. Look closely and you can see how the artist scratched lines into a wax-covered metal plate, which was then bathed in acid, creating an incised design. Ink was applied and the plate pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The etched lines, holding the ink, give the print its characteristic velvety texture, a far cry from a smooth painting, yet capable of capturing immense detail and drama. The making of prints like this involved a division of labor, with specialist workshops dedicated to different stages of the process. This print then, is not just an image, but a record of skilled work and a testament to the ingenuity of early modern production. It reminds us that art is always embedded in the social and economic realities of its time.