Englen lover Abraham en søn 1638

Gerrit Bleker’s ‘Englen lover Abraham en søn’ is an etching made on paper sometime in the first half of the 17th century. To create an etching like this, the artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, then scratched an image into the wax with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, incising them into the surface. Ink was then applied to the plate, filling only the etched lines, and the excess was wiped away. Finally, damp paper was pressed onto the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. The technique of etching lends itself well to detailed, linear work like we see here. The act of mark-making is direct, and the image becomes a product of careful planning, skillful execution, and the application of industrial processes. Bleker’s print is not just a picture, it is a testament to the intersection of artistic skill, craft techniques, and the social systems that enable their production. By considering the material and making of this print, we can appreciate its full significance.