The Prophet Jacob, from "Prophets and Sibyls" 1480 - 1490

This is “The Prophet Jacob, from Prophets and Sibyls,” made by Francesco Rosselli around 1480, using engraving on paper. The stark, linear quality of this print results from a demanding process. Rosselli would have used a tool called a burin to incise lines directly into a copper plate. Ink is then forced into these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This is a labor-intensive procedure, requiring immense skill and control. Looking closely, we can appreciate the precision with which Rosselli has described the figure of Jacob, and the textures of his robes. The very act of engraving, with its demand for careful labor, seems to resonate with the image itself. Considering the time-consuming nature of engraving, we can appreciate how valuable these prints would have been. They were luxury items, in effect, produced for a discerning clientele. The aesthetic effect of the print, like all works of art, is inseparable from the conditions of its making.