Kerkelijke penitentie 1722

This print, "Kerkelijke penitentie," was created by Bernard Picart sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century, and it's made using engraving. This intaglio process involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then using high pressure to transfer the image onto paper. In this case, the matrix, likely copper, allows for a high level of detail. Note the artist's use of hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variation, giving depth and volume to the figures and architectural settings. Prints like this served a crucial social function. They democratized images, making religious scenes and moral lessons accessible to a wider audience. The act of penitence depicted here, with its rituals of submission and reintegration, is amplified through the mechanical reproduction of the image. The print thus becomes a tool for reinforcing social norms and religious authority, making it a potent artifact of its time.