Visioen van Daniël van de vier beesten 1645 - 1740

This print, "Vision of Daniel of the Four Beasts," was made by Christoffel van Sichem II in the 17th century, using the technique of woodcut. This is a relief printing process, where the artist carves away the areas that will not be inked, leaving the design standing in relief. The choice of wood as a material is significant. In Van Sichem's time, woodcuts were a relatively accessible medium, allowing for broader distribution of images and ideas. The bold, graphic style, born from the nature of the material, lends the artwork a sense of immediacy, and directness. Look closely, and you can see the marks of the cutting tools. The lines have a slightly rough, almost crude quality, which imparts a powerful sense of materiality to the image. This is not refined, polished art; it's a product of labor, and speaks to a different set of values, one rooted in craft and accessibility. The work's power comes not just from its symbolic content, but also from the way it was made. It reminds us that art is always the result of specific processes, materials, and social contexts.