Heilige Elias en Heilige Dorotheus after 1636

Frederick Bloemaert created this print, depicting the Holy figures Elias and Dorotheus, using the technique of engraving. Look closely and you can see how the image is built up from a dense network of lines, all incised into the surface of a copper plate. The depth and density of these marks determine how much ink the plate will hold, and therefore how dark that area appears when printed. Notice how the engraver has varied the marks to create areas of tone and shadow, giving depth to the figures and the space around them. Engraving demands considerable skill. It is a laborious and time-consuming process, requiring mastery of the burin – the tool used to cut the lines. But this wasn't only a demonstration of technical expertise. Printmaking in the 17th century was a burgeoning industry, allowing images to be reproduced and disseminated widely. Bloemaert's print, therefore, is not just a devotional image, but also a product of a rapidly changing world of labor, commerce, and faith.