Vijf personen zittend rond een tafel op een terras

This print, "Five People Seated Around a Table on a Terrace," was made by an anonymous artist using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production. The image's fine lines and details were achieved by coating a metal plate with wax, scratching the design through it, and then immersing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. This process allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, which would be printed on paper and distributed widely, thus influencing social perception and taste. If we consider the setting and dress of these figures, we can assume that the people depicted are wealthy. This scene shows the lifestyles afforded by expanding capitalism during the Dutch Golden Age, and how easily such images could be circulated through society to promote aspiration.