Twee aanzichten van een menselijke schedel, voor- en achterhoofd before 1869

Here is an anonymous print titled 'Twee aanzichten van een menselijke schedel, voor- en achterhoofd', or 'Two views of a human skull, front and back of the head' in English. It presents a Celtic human skull with stark detail. The printmaking process itself is key to understanding this artwork. It's not just an image of a skull, it’s an object made through labor-intensive methods of reproduction. The lines, the tones, the very texture we see – all result from a transfer of ink, a mechanical process that makes the image repeatable. Consider what this means. A single skull becomes an image, multiplied and distributed. The skull becomes data, evidence, an artifact to be studied. In its original context, it was a unique object, inseparable from the individual it once housed. Now, through the printing process, it enters into circulation, becoming a commodity, a thing to be consumed by the eye. This is a powerful demonstration of how making and materials influence meaning. It challenges us to consider the social implications inherent in artistic techniques.