Rabelais and Francois I 

Bernard Reder made this image, *Rabelais and Francois I*, using the printmaking technique of engraving. Engraving involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the incised lines, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink is transferred, creating the image. The density of lines in this print, and the way they define the forms, speaks to Reder’s mastery. Notice the contrast of the white paper, against the dark, bold lines. These create definition and volume in the faces of Rabelais and Francois I. Engraving has a long history, often associated with commercial printing, used for reproducing images and texts efficiently. But Reder's approach elevates this process, to explore themes of literature, history, and the human condition. It challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft.