Plagen van de sprinkhanen en de hagel 1579 - 1643

This print, *Plague of the Locusts and Hail*, was made by Johann Sadeler the first, around the late 16th century. It is made using engraving, a process where lines are incised into a metal plate and then printed, a technique that lends itself well to the graphic depiction of detail. Here, the material itself—metal—and the sharp tools used to carve it, have a direct impact on the artwork. The clean, precise lines create a sense of clarity and order, even amidst the chaos of the biblical scene. The technique demanded meticulous labor, each line carefully considered, a process that echoes the laborious nature of the agricultural work being destroyed in the image. The printmaking process itself speaks to broader social issues of labor and class in the 16th century. Sadeler's skilled craft, combined with the printing process, allowed for the mass production and distribution of images, making art more accessible. By understanding these materials and processes, we appreciate the cultural and social values embedded within the artwork.