Allegorie op het afzetten van de acht overlieden van het Chirurgijnsgilde te Amsterdam, 1732 1732

This print, Allegorie op het afzetten van de acht overlieden van het Chirurgijnsgilde te Amsterdam, was made anonymously in 1732 using engraving, a process that's all about precision and control. The stark lines and contrasting tones come from the way the artist carefully cut into a metal plate, likely copper, with a burin. Think of it like a highly skilled form of mark-making, where each line is deliberately placed to create tone and form. Ink is then forced into these lines, and when printed, it's transferred to paper under great pressure. But the choice of printmaking here is important: it is a means of mass production. The image could be circulated widely, amplifying the message of social injustice that it depicts. The print medium, often considered ‘lesser’ than painting or sculpture, becomes a vehicle for potent commentary. It underscores how materials and making are inextricably linked to social and political contexts. This challenges the traditional hierarchies separating fine art and craft.