Personificatie van de overwinning 1565

Jost Amman’s ‘Personification of Victory,’ made sometime in the 16th century, is a woodcut print on paper. This image was created by carving an image in reverse onto a block of wood, then inking the surface and pressing paper against it. The fine lines and details of the print, from the armor of the central figure to the chaotic scene of battle in the background, demonstrate Amman’s skill as a draughtsman and printmaker. The texture of the wood grain is not apparent here, indicating that Amman likely used a dense hardwood, like boxwood, and very sharp tools to achieve such a refined result. The printmaking process, like the scenes of warfare depicted, involved both artistic skill and physical labor. Woodcut was a key technology of early modern Europe, enabling the mass production of images and the dissemination of ideas. Amman's print, therefore, reflects the complex relationship between art, craft, and the burgeoning print industry, and the crucial role of labor in the creation and distribution of images during this period.