Midden onder bevindt zich een nis tussen trappen waarop mensen omhoog lopen c. 1525 - 1594

This print was made by Hans Sibmacher around the turn of the 17th century. It’s an etching, meaning that the artist covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, drew this elaborate design into it with a needle, and then bathed the plate in acid. This would have bitten delicate lines into the metal, allowing for a very fine level of detail. You can see the way the artist has exploited this capacity in the complex symmetry of the image. Everything from the swags to the candelabras to the figures climbing the stairs is depicted with graphic precision. It’s a fantasy space, almost like a stage set. Consider how labor enters into the production of prints like this one. Though Sibmacher was trained as a goldsmith, he made his living in the printmaking trade. He was both a skilled artist and an entrepreneur. His designs would have been purchased by other artisans, to be copied into precious materials. This print demonstrates the power of relatively inexpensive material to ignite creative production.