Hier hebje het leven van Jan Knol / En hoe hy raakte op den hol 1767 - 1793

This print, "Here is the Life of Jan Knol / And how he ended up in the Hole," was created by Erven Hendrik van der Putte using woodcut and letterpress techniques. The materiality of this print is central to its meaning. It's made with relatively inexpensive materials – paper, wood, and ink – reflecting its production in a print shop and intended for broad distribution. The choice of woodcut speaks to the relatively quick and easy mode of reproduction, compared to other printing techniques. Look closely, and you can see the marks of the cutting tool and the grain of the wood, which give the images a graphic quality. The addition of letterpress text completes the narrative, offering moral lessons on how to live. In a time before mass media, prints like these were a way to circulate stories, news, and moral guidance to a wide audience, connecting with the working classes. It blurs the lines between art and craft, showing how everyday materials and techniques can be used to create something meaningful and thought-provoking.