Vrouwelijke personificatie van werelddeel Azië als vrouw met tulband en sabel in landschap met kamelen 1648 - 1664

Cornelis van Dalen II created this engraving of a female personification of Asia, likely in the mid-17th century. This is an image built entirely from lines incised into a copper plate. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to physically cut away at the metal, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then pressed against paper, transferring the image. Think about the labor involved: the careful, precise cutting needed to define every detail, from the turban’s folds to the distant architecture. Note that printmaking was an essential technology for disseminating information and images in this period. It allowed for the mass production of artworks and illustrations, fueling the growth of a visual culture tied to trade and exploration. So, while this print may seem distant from the concerns of craft, it is deeply rooted in the skilled manipulation of materials and the social context of its production. It reminds us that even seemingly ‘fine art’ images are often intertwined with broader histories of making and consumption.