Drie broers aan het bed van hun vader 1792

This print, titled "Three Brothers at their Father's Bedside," was made by Reinier Vinkeles. He most likely used an engraving technique, cutting lines into a metal plate with a burin, and then inking the plate to transfer the image onto paper. The choice of engraving is significant. Unlike a quickly sketched drawing, engraving demands precision and control. Here, the fine lines create a somber mood as three sons gather, holding shovels. The men appear to be laborers, ready for a backbreaking task. Given the era, it’s probable the print was made for reproduction in a book or as a personal memento. Either way, this small, carefully wrought image connects us to broader social issues of labor, class, and family. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the result of skilled labor, reflecting the world in which they were made.