Wisselkantoor van Lodewijk XIV, 1706 1706

This print, entitled "Wisselkantoor van Lodewijk XIV," or "Louis XIV's Exchange Office," was made anonymously in 1706. The artist used the technique of etching, carving lines into a metal plate and then using it to make impressions on paper. Notice how the etcher has used line to create both realistic details and satirical exaggerations. Line defines the figures of Louis XIV as a clown, while the coins on the table are flat, as if devalued. The text, an integral part of the print, wraps around the central image and adds layers of meaning to the scene. Prints like this were relatively inexpensive to produce, allowing for broad distribution of political messages. This one speaks to the social context of the time, offering a critical commentary on Louis XIV's economic policies. In appreciating this print, we acknowledge the labor involved in its making and the intent to influence public opinion. It reminds us that art and craft have always been intertwined with social and political discourse.