Menigte probeert een man van een ladder te halen 1806

This print, "Menigte probeert een man van een ladder te halen," was made by Reinier Vinkeles in the late 18th or early 19th century using etching and engraving. These are intaglio printmaking techniques, meaning the image is incised into a metal plate, which then holds ink, and transfers to paper under pressure. Vinkeles employed these established, reproductive printmaking techniques, which gained prominence in the 18th century. As a result, prints were no longer exclusively for art, but played a key role in disseminating knowledge, news, and political discourse. This image, with its depiction of a crowd attempting to pull a man off a ladder in front of a crucifix, speaks to a specific social context. The very act of etching and engraving—laborious, precise, and demanding a mastery of tools—mirrors the societal forces at play. Vinkeles has captured a moment of social unrest, the very process he used was deeply embedded in the era's changing social and political landscape. It’s a reminder that materials, making, and context are vital to understanding art, breaking down barriers between fine art and craft.