Mater Dolorosa 1583 - 1587

Johann Sadeler I made this engraving, Mater Dolorosa, sometime between 1550 and 1601. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking technique where the artist uses a tool called a burin to carve an image into a metal plate, usually copper. The lines that define the image are physically cut into the plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves. The surface is wiped clean, and paper is pressed against the plate with considerable force, transferring the ink from the grooves to the paper. Consider the level of skill and labor required to produce such an image, each line carefully considered and precisely executed. The resulting print, with its sharp lines and fine details, was a luxury item, a testament to both the artist's skill and the patron's wealth. By focusing on the process, we see how this image participates in a much wider history of labor, artistry, and social status.