Allegorische figuren bij een grafmonument 1723

This print, *Allegorische figuren bij een grafmonument*, was made in 1723 by Jacob Folkema, using the technique of etching. The stark lines we see were achieved by coating a metal plate with wax, scratching away the design, and then submerging the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating the recessed lines that hold ink. This process allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of images, reflecting the increasing demand for visual material in the 18th century. The very qualities of the etching technique—the precision, the reproducibility, the ability to disseminate images widely—speak to the burgeoning print culture of the period and the increasing market for art. The scale of production meant that specialized labor was required. The print also stands as a reminder that so-called 'fine art' practices are always intertwined with wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.