Wensbrief met voorstellingen uit het Nieuwe Testament 1761 - 1804

This is a greeting card, or 'Wensbrief,' with scenes from the New Testament, made in Amsterdam by Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont. It's an etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. Think about the labor involved: the skilled artisan meticulously cutting lines into the metal, the press operator carefully applying ink and pressure. This wasn't a unique artwork, but part of a system of mass production, churning out greetings for a growing market of consumers. The relatively light weight of the paper allows the card to be easily shared, which contrasts with the weight of the religious subject matter. This contrast speaks to the social context in which it was made, as it demonstrates a negotiation between commerce and faith, where traditional values were adapted and commodified for a changing world. So, the next time you see an etching, consider the hands that made it, the marketplace that fueled its creation, and the complex web of cultural forces that gave it meaning.