Derde eeuw 1667 - 1672

This print, "Derde eeuw", was made by an anonymous artist through the traditional method of engraving. Engraving is a labor-intensive process, as it involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Here, the density of the lines creates the tonal range and fine details. You can see how these linear marks form figures that represent the different stages of human life. The medium of engraving was closely tied to the rise of print culture. The labor involved in the engraving process stands in contrast to the mass production of the final prints, which could be widely distributed and consumed. This print, therefore, reminds us that all objects, no matter how small, bear the traces of the hands that made them. Appreciating such works requires an understanding of the social context and the labor that went into their creation.