Element aarde als kind met schaal met fruit en groenten voor korenveld in ovaal 1648 - 1664

This print, "Element aarde als kind met schaal met fruit en groenten voor korenveld in ovaal," was made by Cornelis van Dalen II in the 17th century, using the technique of engraving. Consider the labor embedded within the image itself. Through a skillful use of line, texture, and tone, van Dalen has rendered the abundance of nature. A cherubic figure struggles to hold a basket brimming with the fruits of the earth, set against a field of wheat. The material quality of the engraving lends itself to the depiction of the agricultural landscape, giving a sense of the organic and the tangible. Engraving demands precision and control, and this print reflects van Dalen’s mastery of the process. Yet the image also speaks to broader social and economic themes. The labor of the artist mirrors the labor of the field, reminding us that all images – like all things – are made.