Vrouwelijke personificaties van wijsheid, voorzichtigheid en gematigdheid 1817

Martin Speer made this print of female personifications of wisdom, prudence, and temperance, but the date is unknown. It’s made from etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. The fineness of the lines is really astonishing. Etching has always been associated with the circulation of ideas; it’s a way of democratizing images, making them available to a wide audience. But like any medium, etching isn’t neutral; its success depends on the skill of the etcher, and their access to materials, equipment, and distribution networks. Looking closely at the quality of the line work can tell us a lot about the labor, skill, and investment that went into its production. This print is trying to give us virtues, but it is the mode of production that is key to its value.