Dido doodt zichzelf met dolk naast brandstapel 1580

This print, made in 1580 by an anonymous artist, depicts Dido taking her own life. It's an engraving, meaning the artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate, likely copper, to hold ink. The plate would then be pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Engraving was a skilled craft, requiring precision and control. The dense network of lines creates a sense of depth and texture, look at the flames and the detailed rendering of Dido's drapery. Notice how the evenness of the lines creates a consistent tone across the image. Prints like these were relatively easy to produce in multiples and circulate, making stories like Dido's accessible to a wide audience. The act of engraving itself becomes a means of production, translating classical narratives into a tangible form for consumption and interpretation. It shows how a detailed, skilled process can shape the circulation of stories and values in society.