Apostel Petrus door een engel uit de gevangenis bevrijd 1697

This print, made by an anonymous artist, captures a biblical scene using the graphic technique of engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a metal plate, likely copper in this case. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carefully cut lines into the surface. Ink is then forced into these grooves, and the excess is wiped away. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, creating the image. The resulting print is characterized by its sharp, precise lines and tonal gradations, achieved by varying the density and thickness of the engraved lines. The medium’s reliance on manual skill underscores the amount of labour involved in producing such detailed imagery. In its time, this print would have made the biblical story accessible to a wide audience, a function enabled by the reproducibility inherent in the printmaking process. In that sense, it represents the democratizing potential of graphic media.