Twee palmbomen, tegen elkaar aan 1672

Albert Flamen made this etching, 'Two Palm Trees Touching,' sometime in the 17th century. It’s a small print, made with a metal plate that would have been carefully incised. The dense lines create a textural contrast between the feathery tops of the trees, and the blocky surface of their trunks. The etching process is labor-intensive, demanding skill and patience to achieve such detail. The image itself speaks to themes of connection and unity, as suggested by the phrase “Love Unites” at the top. In Flamen's time, printmaking was a crucial means of circulating images, connecting people across distances, and the hand production of this print emphasizes the value placed on skilled craftsmanship. The intimate scale invites us to appreciate the artistry involved, blurring the boundaries between fine art and craft.