Reproductie van een prent van gedecoreerde panelen door Hieronymus Cock before 1881

This reproduction of a print by Hieronymus Cock shows a series of decorated panels. Cock, a printmaker in 16th century Antwerp, ran a commercial workshop that churned out images like this. The prints circulated widely and served as models for artisans. In this image, the panels feature classical motifs; human figures, fantastic creatures, and elaborate ornamentation. These designs catered to the tastes of a growing merchant class eager to display their wealth and sophistication. Antwerp was then a major center of trade and artistic production. Cock's workshop exemplifies how art became increasingly commercialized. Studying prints like these, alongside archival records of workshops and trade networks, helps us understand the economic forces shaping artistic production at the time. This reminds us that art isn't made in a vacuum.