Rijkdom 1549

This print, *Rijkdom*, or "Wealth", was made in 1549 by Heinrich Aldegrever. He employed the etching process, which involves covering a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then dipping the plate in acid to bite the exposed metal. Aldegrever was a printmaker, and this example, like all prints, is inherently reproducible. The lines and tones, the very texture of the image, results from an industrial process. Its physical qualities are a direct result of the etching process and the labor involved. Look closely, and you can see how the etching allows for a high level of detail. Aldegrever captures a wealth of textures, from the soft folds of the figure's gown to the hard, reflective surfaces of the chalice and coins. Through this skillful manipulation of materials, Aldegrever transforms a base metal into an object of beauty and meaning, showing the potential of craft to reflect the social and economic realities of its time.