Maria met kind op een wolk 1822 - 1873

This is Joseph von Keller's 'Maria met kind op een wolk', made with engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a surface, in this case a metal plate, and then filled with ink to be printed. This technique requires great skill and precision. The engraver uses a tool called a burin to cut lines into the plate, the depth and spacing of which determine the tonal range of the final print. The result is a finely detailed image, where the crosshatching creates areas of shadow and form. This print would have been part of a larger system of image production and distribution, allowing for the wide dissemination of religious imagery. Consider the labor that goes into creating this, and the social role it played in reproducing religious beliefs at scale. By appreciating the material processes involved, we can understand the cultural significance of prints like this, and challenge the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.