Titelpagina voor: 'Hedendaagsche Historie van Spanje, deel 2', 1765 1765

This title page for a history of Spain was etched in 1765 by Reinier Vinkeles. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through it to expose the metal, and then immersing the plate in acid. The acid bites away the exposed lines, creating an image that can be printed. Notice how the sharp, precise lines of etching lend themselves to rendering the scene's complex political message. In the foreground enslaved men kneel before a regal figure of Spain, while cherubic figures play with the tools of empire. The image isn't just a statement, it's a product of a specific set of techniques and commercial conditions. Etchings like these were relatively quick and inexpensive to produce, making them perfect for book illustrations, allowing publishers to disseminate images widely. Ultimately, this print challenges any neat divide between art and craft. Its meaning lies in the image itself, but also in the method by which it was made, and its role in a larger system of labor, politics, and consumption.