Kind stapt uit bed 1628

Christoffel van Sichem II made this woodcut, Kind stapt uit bed, sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries. Woodcut is a relief printing process. The artist carves away the areas that will not be inked, leaving the design standing in relief. Consider the labor involved. Each line you see was deliberately cut into the block, requiring skilled hands and sharp tools. The stark contrast of black ink on white paper emphasizes the graphic nature of the medium, and the inherent qualities of the wood grain add texture to the print. This image was likely produced as one of many, and made available to a wide audience. It speaks to the rise of print culture and the democratization of images during this period. The work invites us to appreciate the relationship between labor, materials, and social context in understanding its full meaning.