Handelsetiket met een distel en een kroon c. 1681 - 1740

This trade card featuring a thistle and crown was produced by Isaac Vincentsz. van der Vinne. It's made with the technique of etching. This printmaking process involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and used to create impressions on paper. The crisp lines and fine details, particularly in the thistle and crown, highlight the etcher's skill. Consider the time and precision required to create the design on the plate, and the repetitive labor of printing multiple copies. These trade cards were crucial to early modern commerce. They acted as miniature advertisements, connecting businesses to their clientele. Van der Vinne's choice of a thistle, a symbol often associated with Scotland, speaks to the complex web of trade and cultural exchange in the 17th and 18th centuries. By focusing on its materials and processes, we can see how this small artwork reflects a much larger world of labor, trade, and cultural identity.