Profeet Ezechiel krijgt schriftrol van God 1681 - 1732

This image, made by François van Bleyswijck, depicts the Prophet Ezekiel receiving a scroll from God. It's an etching, meaning the design was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, with a sharp tool called a burin. The plate was then inked, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely and you can see the dense network of lines that create the image, from the stormy sky to the figure of Ezekiel. This was a laborious process, demanding precision and control. The engraver’s skill is evident in the gradations of tone and texture he was able to achieve. This was not just a means of artistic expression, but also a commercial enterprise. Etchings like this were relatively inexpensive to produce and made images widely accessible. Consider the labor involved, from the mining of the metal to the printing of the final image. These prints, while often devotional in subject matter, participated in a much wider economy of production, consumption, and trade. Appreciating these connections helps us understand the full cultural significance of even seemingly simple images.