Allegorie op de nieuwe psalmberijming, 1773

Reinier Vinkeles made this print, *Allegorie op de nieuwe psalmberijming*, in 1773. The work is made of etching and comes from the tradition of printmaking, a key means of disseminating information in the 18th century. Printmaking relies on the skilled labor of the artist, of course, but also on the press operator and the paper maker. Each of these roles demands precision and care. Here, Vinkeles is using etching. He would cover a metal plate with a waxy ground, draw through it with a needle, and then bathe the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. The resulting image is finely detailed, almost photographic in its realism. This was essential for the print to function as a persuasive piece of political communication, in this case, regarding new translations of the Psalms. Seen in this light, the print is not just an image, but a product of collective labor, used in the service of political and religious ideology.