Goudweegster (variant met twee duivels) 1690 - 1694

This print, "Goudweegster (variant met twee duivels)", was made by Jan van der Bruggen around the turn of the 18th century, using an engraving technique. The image is made entirely from tiny carved lines in a metal plate, which hold ink and transfer it to paper. The fine detail would have required a high degree of skill, and a clear sense of design. Notice how the dense, dark shadows give way to lighter areas, creating a sense of depth and texture in everything from the figures' clothing to the meticulously rendered coins and ledgers. The image shows a woman carefully weighing gold, seemingly oblivious to the devils and skeletons lurking nearby. This is a commentary on greed. The tools she uses—scales, weights, and a counting board—speak to a rising merchant class and a society increasingly focused on monetary wealth. Consider the labor that went into producing both the image and the economic system it critiques. By focusing on materials, making, and social context, we can see how craft and fine art are deeply intertwined.