Sophonisba Receiving the Poisoned Cup n.d.

Pieter Lastman created this print, Sophonisba Receiving the Poisoned Cup, using the technique of etching. This method involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer, then scratching an image into it with a fine needle. Acid is applied, biting into the exposed metal to create the lines, and the plate is then inked and printed. Lastman skillfully uses the etching needle to render fine details, textures, and tonal variations that bring the story to life. The intricate process demands careful control and precision, and this print displays a high level of technical mastery. The act of etching itself, a kind of controlled destruction by way of corrosive acid, has a direct connection to the narrative scene, in which Sophonisba takes her own life by drinking poison. In both cases, there is a potent agency at work, resulting in a transformation of materials. Lastman uses this dramatic material to create an allegory of human drama.