De triomf van de Eucharistie over wijsbegeerte, wetenschap, dichtkunst en natuur c. 1626 - 1652

Nicolaes Lauwers made this engraving, *The Triumph of the Eucharist over Philosophy, Science, Poetry and Nature*, using a technique that was itself something of a triumph. Engraving demanded a high level of technical skill. Using a tool called a burin, the artist would cut lines into a copper plate, creating grooves that would hold ink. The plate would then be wiped clean, the ink remaining only in the incised lines. Pressing paper against the plate would transfer the image, resulting in a print with a distinctive, crisp quality. This was no easy task. Every line, every curve, every minute detail had to be meticulously carved by hand. The process required immense patience and control. But it also allowed for remarkable detail and precision. The triumph depicted is mirrored in the triumph of production. The visual impact of the engraving results from this collision of ideology and laborious, artisanal process. The making and the meaning of this artwork are inseparable.