Kindermoord te Bethlehem 1579 - 1639

Johann Sadeler I created this print, "Kindermoord te Bethlehem," using engraving techniques. The linear quality of the image comes directly from the incised lines on a metal plate. This isn't painting or sculpture, but a process closer to mass production, where the same image can be reproduced many times. Notice how the hard, cold lines lend a certain distance to the scene, even as the subject matter is extremely violent. The depicted event – the Massacre of the Innocents – is transformed into a repeatable, reproducible commodity. Sadeler was part of a large and successful family of printmakers. His work reflects a growing culture of image consumption, made possible by skilled labor, the division of labor, and the mechanics of the printing press. This print straddles fine art and the industrial process, prompting us to think about the relationship between art and society.