Christ on a balcony surrounded by guards, Pilate stands to the right gesturing toward him; from the series of 112 prints of the sacred history, after the painting by Mattia Preti 1725 - 1744

This print, made by Pietro Monaco in the 18th century, depicts Christ on a balcony, rendered in ink on paper. Monaco made this print after a painting by Mattia Preti, using an engraving process to capture the original’s drama and detail. Look closely, and you’ll see how the dense network of lines creates a range of tones and textures, from the heavy robes of Pontius Pilate to the soft clouds above. The engraver used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. This painstaking process allowed for the mass production of images, making art more accessible in the 1700s. Prints like this one were often made by skilled artisans working in workshops, where labor was divided and specialized. The graphic quality of the print, with its sharp contrasts and precise lines, also reflects the growing importance of visual communication in an age of expanding literacy and commerce. By considering the material and the making of this print, we can appreciate its place within a broader history of art, craft, and social change.