Edelman uit Venetië en zijn vrouw Leonella 1641

This engraving, made by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger, depicts a nobleman from Venice and his wife Leonella. The process of engraving itself is crucial to understanding this artwork. It is a printing technique, allowing images to be reproduced and disseminated widely. Engraving involves meticulously incising lines into a metal plate, which are then filled with ink and transferred onto paper. The resulting print captures the fine details and textures achieved through this laborious process. This mode of production speaks directly to social issues of labor, class, and consumption. Prints like this one were often made for a rising middle class eager to emulate the lifestyles of the wealthy. The artwork embodies a commercial transaction: the nobleman and his wife become commodities, available for purchase and consumption by a voyeuristic public. By recognizing the material reality of the engraving, we can better appreciate how it functions as both an artistic creation and a reflection of its time.