Twee oorspronkelijke bewoners van Amerika 1648 - 1836

This print, "Twee oorspronkelijke bewoners van Amerika," was made by Clement, de Vri, and van Stegeren, printed in Zwolle. It is an engraving on paper, a method of printmaking that requires specialized skills and tools. The image shows two Indigenous inhabitants of America, framed by a decorative border of flowers and foliage. What is interesting about this is that the print would have been made using an intaglio process, which is more easily mass-produced than drawing, thus enabling the mass distribution of these types of images. The production of such prints had a direct relationship to the emerging modes of production and capitalism of the time. The consumption of images like this one reinforced a particular idea of the ‘New World’ and its people, thus emphasizing the cultural and social context in which it was produced. The artists were also responding to the growing demand for printed materials about exotic lands, tying their labor to the expansion of European influence. Ultimately, the meaning of this print is deeply embedded in its materials, making, and context. It is a testament to the power of craft in shaping our understanding of the world.