Heilige Sebastiaan 1861

This is 'Heilige Sebastiaan', made by Léopold Flameng. The dimensions of the work are 239 mm high and 148 mm wide. It is made with the technique of etching, which involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, in this case copper, to create an image, and then using the plate to make prints on paper. The linear quality of this piece shows us the mark of the hand, and the labor that was involved in the detailed work on the plate, where the artist would have used specialist tools. The fineness of the lines creates light and shade, giving the image a subtle, almost photographic appearance. We can appreciate the skill that Flameng employed in creating this etching, which allowed for the wide distribution of images that otherwise would only be available as paintings. The work therefore democratizes access to images.