Penning met een gedicht en de namen van Engelse koningen 1685 - 1702

This circular print, listing the names of English kings, was made anonymously, most likely in the Netherlands. The process of printmaking—probably engraving—is central to its meaning. Lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The resulting image is characterized by sharp, precise lines and the possibility of mass production. The visual style is closely related to calligraphy and ornamental script, which are both highly skilled traditions. But the mode of production is tied to wider issues of labor and consumption. Consider the amount of work involved in creating this intricate design, not just by the engraver, but also in the extraction and processing of the metal used for the printing plate. These are precisely the kinds of considerations that encourage us to look beyond traditional distinctions between art, craft, and design, and to see them all as part of a larger social and economic picture.