Goede herder 1570 - 1601

This engraving, Goede herder, or Good Shepard, was created by an anonymous artist, and printed on paper. Focusing on the materiality of printmaking, we might ask how the artist has approached the copperplate to create areas of dark and light. Look closely, and you’ll notice dense clusters of hatched lines to describe the shadows in the image. The artist has likely used a burin, a steel cutting tool, to physically remove slivers of metal from the plate, and inking the plate to create a relief. The marks are precise, but were made entirely by hand, with no mechanical intervention. The artist's skill is evident in the consistency of the lines, and the way they create a sense of depth and form. This print bridges the gap between art and craft, by employing skilled handwork, alongside sophisticated techniques and traditional artistry. It reminds us that meaning can be found not only in the subject matter, but also in the choices of materials and the evidence of the making process.