Twee soorten narcissen 1617

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger made this print of two narcissi, using an engraving technique, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. This print would have been made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it. Notice the precision of the lines, giving shape to the petals and stems. This kind of meticulous labor was highly valued at the time. The print is not just an image of flowers; it also reflects the skill involved in its making. Engravings like this one were popular in the 17th century, especially for botanical illustrations. The printing press allowed for the wide distribution of knowledge, from scientific observations to artistic designs. Consider how this print participates in both the history of scientific illustration and the art of printmaking, and how the mechanical process of reproduction democratized images, making them accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. By attending to the materials and processes of its making, we can appreciate its cultural significance.