In een schuur staat een man tegenover een slapende grijsaard 1773

This print, made by Reinier Vinkeles, likely dates to the late 18th century. It’s an etching, which is an indirect method of image-making. Vinkeles would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn into it with a needle to expose the metal, and then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bites into the lines, which are then inked and printed. The resulting image has a distinctive graphic quality; you can really see the mark of the artist's hand. And the choice of subject—an interior scene with figures, likely illustrative—is also telling. Etchings such as these were often made in multiples for books and broadsides, which bring creative practices such as drawing to the sphere of commerce. This piece speaks to the rise of print culture in the 18th century, and the way that skilled artisans like Vinkeles found a place within it. We must consider the broader context in which it was made, including the rise of newspapers, the demand for illustration, and the economics of production.