Twee drinkende vrouwen en een oude vrouw 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk produced this print, *Twee drinkende vrouwen en een oude vrouw*, using a technique called mezzotint. Look closely, and you’ll see it’s composed of countless tiny dots, creating an image of revelry. Mezzotint involves roughening a copper plate with a tool called a rocker, then smoothing areas to create lighter tones. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations give the scene a rich, almost tactile quality. Prints like this were luxury goods. While paper was relatively cheap, the labour involved in mezzotint was considerable. Each plate demanded skilled handwork. Consider, too, the social context: the print likely circulated among a wealthy clientele, who would appreciate the depiction of leisure and indulgence. The very act of collecting such images reinforced their status. So, next time you encounter a print, remember it's not just an image. It's the product of a whole chain of social relations, made visible through the skilled manipulation of materials.