Wijnoogst 1661 - 1726

This print, titled ‘Wijnoogst’ or ‘Grape Harvest’, was made by an anonymous artist, and its date is unknown. It's an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, and then printed. The process begins with physically cutting lines into the plate with a tool called a burin, demanding immense skill and control. The depth and density of the lines determine the tones in the final print. The plate is then inked and wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Damp paper is laid on the plate, and they are run through a press. The pressure forces the paper into the inked lines, transferring the image. Consider the time and labor involved in producing each impression. This particular print depicts the labor of a grape harvest, so we see a reflection of its own making in the image. The repetitive, physically demanding work of the vineyard mirrored in the skilled, repetitive, physically demanding work of the engraver. Appreciating this connection, and the complex processes behind it, enriches our understanding of both craft and fine art.