Fotoreproductie van een gravure van De opwekking van Lazarus door Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert, naar het schilderij door Peter Paul Rubens before 1858

This is a photo reproduction of an engraving by Jean Louis Bargignac, after Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert's engraving of Peter Paul Rubens' painting, depicting The Raising of Lazarus. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process. The artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate, usually copper. These incised lines hold ink, and when the plate is pressed against paper, the image is transferred. The resulting print displays a level of detail, and fine lines, which give the image a unique visual texture. In this case, the image is a reproduction, and it is important to consider the layers of artistic labor involved. Rubens created the original painting, Bolswert interpreted it through engraving, and Bargignac reproduced that engraving photographically. This raises questions about authorship, authenticity, and the role of reproduction in disseminating images. It prompts us to consider the labor and skill involved in each stage of production, and how these processes shape our understanding of the artwork.