Kain doodt Abel 1518 - 1522

This small print, "Kain doodt Abel," or "Cain killing Abel," was made by an anonymous artist using engraving, a printmaking technique that depends on the cutting of lines into a metal plate. The density of the lines makes the scene dramatic, and we can see how the artist has used the white of the paper to create highlights that illuminate the figures of Cain and Abel. Engraving demands a high level of skill and control, as the artist must apply precise pressure to the burin, the tool used to carve the image. The labor-intensive process reflects the wider social issues of labor and craft production in its time, and although it's difficult to say who made it, the quality of the work attests to a highly skilled, likely professional artisan. The act of engraving itself, turning the metal plate into a matrix for producing many identical images, speaks to the relationship between art and modes of production, prefiguring the mechanical reproduction of images in later eras. Recognizing the craftsmanship behind this small but powerful artwork challenges traditional notions of fine art by emphasizing the artistry of making.