Negen voetstukken 1622

This print of nine pedestals, made by an anonymous artist, probably dates to the early modern period. It was created using a process of engraving, in which lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The impact of this technique is evident in the sharp clarity of the lines and the way the varying densities of hatching create a sense of depth and volume. These architectural elements, while rendered two-dimensionally, evoke a world of skilled labor - the stone carvers, masons, and builders who would have translated designs like these into actual structures. In their profusion of ornament, the pedestals also speak to the economics of display: they are conceived to showcase power and wealth, which is made possible through networks of production and consumption. By focusing on the materiality and making of this print, we can appreciate its significance as a document of both artistic skill and social ambition. The work invites us to consider the broader cultural context in which such objects were created and consumed.