Ziekte door dansen genezen, 1673 1673

This print, titled "Ziekte door dansen genezen," meaning "Illness cured by dancing," was made in 1673 by an anonymous artist, using engraving on paper. Consider how the artist has used the incised lines to create the whole scene. Note the variety of marks used to build up tone and texture, from the fine hatching that models the figures' faces to the denser areas that suggest shadow and depth. Engraving is an intaglio process, which means the image is cut into a plate, in this case copper, with a tool called a burin. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. The printmaker then presses paper against the plate, transferring the ink to create the image. Engraving was a highly skilled and laborious process, often used to reproduce paintings for a wider audience. However, this print is not of that kind; it belongs to a more popular tradition of printmaking, and it's full of social commentary. The verses above and below the image are integral to its meaning, and the dancing cure for disease is a satirical reference to the social mores of the time.