Saint Adalbert of Egmond, from Saints of the North and South Netherlands 1650

Cornelis Visscher created this print of Saint Adalbert of Egmond sometime before 1658, using the technique of engraving. This is an intaglio process, meaning that the image is incised into a plate, likely made of copper. The quality of line is critical here. Visscher would have used a tool called a burin to cut the design into the metal. The depth and density of these lines is what creates the image; ink is held in the grooves and then transferred to paper. Look closely and you’ll see that the lines are not uniform; they swell and diminish, creating areas of light and shadow. Notice the saint’s elaborately decorated robes, the details of his face, and the textures of the falcon perched on his hand; all are achieved through the careful manipulation of this linear language. The prints such as this one were relatively easy to produce, and thus were important to the spread of information in early modern Europe. The skill of the engraver, therefore, was tied to a whole world of commerce. So, next time you see a print, consider not just the image, but the immense amount of labor involved. It's a real feat of craft.