XXVII Duyckt laet overgaen 1614

Roemer Visscher created this print, "XXVII Duyckt laet overgaen," using the relatively democratic and reproducible technique of etching. Consider the stark lines incised into the metal plate, which would have been submerged in acid to bite away the exposed areas. The resulting image is one of shelter and vulnerability, as a figure cowers under a makeshift roof during a storm. The printmaking process itself carries social significance. Unlike painting or sculpture, which were unique objects made for the wealthy, prints were accessible to a broader audience. The very act of etching—a skilled but not inherently exclusive process—democratized art production to some degree, aligning with the print's message about those of "kleyn vermoghen". Visscher’s choice of etching over more laborious methods reflects a shift towards efficiency, mirroring the burgeoning capitalist spirit of the time. This work highlights how materials, making, and context intertwine to challenge traditional art boundaries.