De man met de worst 1690

This mezzotint, "The Man with the Sausage," was made by Jacob Gole in the late 17th century, using a copper plate. Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking process that relies on texture to hold ink. The plate is roughened evenly to create tone, then smoothed to produce an image by varying the amount of ink held in different areas. Gole excelled at this technique. Look closely, and you can see how he used the fine textures to create a velvety, almost photographic tonal range. In this print, the material and the subject matter are closely linked. The sausage, rendered so palpably, is a product of labor. This was the era of Dutch prosperity, fueled by global trade. Meat production and consumption were signs of wealth, and also objects of enjoyment. Gole's skill and labor elevated a simple image into something marvelous, reflecting the economic context of his time. This print encourages us to recognize the significance of materials, labor, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.