Allegorie op de middag met personificatie van Meridiës (de middag) c. 1590 - 1637

Egbert van Panderen created this engraving, "Allegory of Midday with Personification of Meridies", around the early 17th century, using ink on paper. Engraving is a printmaking process that involves cutting a design into a metal plate, inking the incisions, and then pressing paper against the plate to transfer the ink. If you look closely, you can see that the entire image is built up from precise lines, each one carefully carved. The engraver's skill is evident in the handling of tone and detail, from the figure of Meridies in the sky to the laborers resting in the foreground. The print medium was crucial to disseminating images and ideas during this period. Think about it – the engraving process allowed for multiple identical prints to be produced, making the artwork accessible to a wider audience. This particular print, with its depiction of labor and leisure, speaks to the rhythms of daily life and the social context of the time. The attention to detail and the laborious process involved in creating this engraving challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.