Afbeeldinge van verscheidene gedierten en vogelen 1722 - 1768

This sheet of images depicting various animals and birds was made by Pieter Koumans, a printer and bookseller, using woodcut techniques. As a mode of production, the woodcut is a form of relief printmaking, where an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. It’s a labor intensive process requiring skill and precision to incise the block with the desired design. The texture of the wood grain, visible in the final print, adds a tactile dimension to the image, creating a contrast with the smooth areas. The stark black lines against the white paper give the animals a sense of mass, but the images still maintain a graphic quality. Koumans' decision to use this traditional, accessible medium suggests a desire to reach a broad audience. By appreciating the materials and processes of production, we can gain insight into the social and cultural context in which this image was made, ultimately challenging our conventional ideas of art and craft.