Huis te Britten, in de Romeinse tijd 1797 - 1799

Reinier Vinkeles made this print, titled *Huis te Britten, in de Romeinse tijd*, around the turn of the 19th century, using etching and engraving techniques. It's a fascinating combination of processes, with acid used to bite lines into a metal plate, and then further refined with a hand-held burin. The print's material quality lends itself to the depiction of labor. Look at the figures pulling the boat. Vinkeles’s lines seem to strain and stretch. The image asks us to consider the exploitation of human muscle. This wasn't just a matter of historical record for Vinkeles and his contemporaries. Remember that this print was made in the era of Dutch colonialism, when the exploitation of labor was a central fact of life, both at home and abroad. So, while this print may seem like a straightforward illustration, the manner of its making, combined with its subject matter, elevates it to a powerful statement about labor, politics, and consumption. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly simple artwork can be deeply embedded in the social and cultural context of its time.