Hier is thans veel vreugd te vinden, als gij ziet aan deze vrinden, / In 't onbekend luilekkerland, een ieder heeft het abondant 1833 - 1900

This print, “Hier is thans veel vreugd te vinden,” by Glenisson & Van Genechten, is a hand-colored etching, a process involving both skill and labor. The crisp lines suggest a metal plate carefully etched with acid to create the design, then likely printed in multiples before being finished with watercolor washes. The depicted world of Cockaigne, or “Luilekkerland”, literally “lazytown”, is filled with readily available food and drink – labor is conspicuously absent. The print is not just an image, but also a social commentary. The labor of the artist stands in stark contrast to the imagined world of leisure. Consider the skilled labor involved in producing this print, and its distribution in early modern society. It invites us to reflect on the amount of work involved in its production process. By understanding its material, making, and context, we begin to see how the print blurs the lines between fine art, craft, and social critique.