Salomo laat de tempel bouwen 1554 - 1595

This engraving, by an anonymous artist, depicts the biblical King Solomon overseeing the construction of the Temple. The image is a fascinating study in contrasts, and specifically, labor. Solomon sits enthroned, adorned in regal garb, while around him, workers toil with hammers, chisels, and scaffolding. The scene vividly portrays the physical effort required to build something monumental, emphasizing the relationship between the vision of a leader and the labor of the many. Notice the detail in the rendering of stone blocks, each one carefully shaped by hand. The artist seems particularly interested in differentiating the textures: the smooth, finished surfaces versus the rough, unfinished ones. The printmaking technique itself speaks to a similar dynamic. While the artist who designed the image may not have physically built a temple, they certainly engaged in the repetitive, skilled work of etching, creating a matrix from which multiple impressions could be made, each one carrying the weight of the original act of creation. The image encourages us to think about the interplay of different kinds of work, and how meaning arises through the fusion of concept, process, and material.