De jeugd die trap voor trap / word aangezet in 't leeren / Vind hier door zoete schets / haar leer-lust te hernieuwen 1787 - 1822

This educational print was made by Jan Hendrik de Lange, a Dutch printer, using woodcut on paper. Woodcut is a relief printing technique where an image is carved into a block of wood; the remaining raised areas receive ink and are pressed onto paper. The linear quality and visible marks of the carving tools are very much on display here. Each cut made in the block has the potential to influence the final image, reflecting both the skill and limitations of the artist. The application of color in this print further enhances its visual appeal, though the method would have been simple: applying colors to the block by hand, or using a separate block for each color. Prints like this one had a vital function in early modern Europe, circulating knowledge and shaping public opinion. Inexpensive and relatively quick to produce, the woodcut process allowed for the widespread distribution of images, playing an essential role in cultural exchange. It democratized image-making, making visual communication more accessible. By looking at it, we can appreciate the way that material processes have always shaped social life.