Bruiloft te Kana, blad rechts 1599 - 1603

This is a print made by Jacob Matham in the late 16th or early 17th century using the technique of engraving. With its stark contrast of light and dark, engraving is created through meticulous, physical labor. The artist uses a tool called a burin to manually carve lines into a metal plate. Ink is then applied, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. High pressure forces the paper against the plate, transferring the image. Look closely, and you can see the incredible detail Matham achieved. The texture of the clothing, the expressions on the faces, and the rendering of architectural elements; all this is achieved through thousands of carefully placed lines. The image depicts the wedding at Cana, where Christ miraculously turned water into wine. Look at the lower right of the image. Here, the laborious act of filling the jars is emphasized, and the viewer is reminded of the vast amount of work behind the scenes in a grand event like a wedding. The print’s value lies not just in its aesthetic qualities, but also in the labor-intensive process that brought it into being. It invites us to consider the complex relationship between artistic skill, manual work, and the social context in which art is produced and consumed.