Christus staande tussen zeven kandelaren, met zeven sterren in de hand 1780

This print, "Christus staande tussen zeven kandelaren, met zeven sterren in de hand", was made by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki. The print was created through etching, a chemical process using acid to cut lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The etched lines create fine details that define the forms and textures in the image. The stark contrast between the dark lines and the bright paper gives the print a graphic quality, emphasizing its symbolic content. Chodowiecki was part of a broader social movement interested in self-improvement and education, which explains the print’s didactic tone. Prints like this made art accessible to a wider audience beyond the wealthy elite. They could be reproduced and distributed widely, acting as visual aids for moral and religious instruction. The image's effectiveness relies on the labor of the artist and the printer. This reminds us that even spiritual ideas are mediated through material processes.