Dido op haar brandstapel 1713

This engraving of ‘Dido on her Pyre’ was made by Michael Heylbroeck sometime between 1635 and 1733, using a technique that allowed images to be reproduced on a mass scale. The printmaking process involves considerable labor. The artist uses a tool called a burin to manually carve lines into a metal plate, transferring the image through ink onto paper. This technique democratized image making, enabling wider circulation of visual narratives, but it also speaks to the intense, specialized work of the printmaker. Look at the rich details of the scene, the textures of the fabrics, the figures, and their expressions – all rendered through the careful manipulation of line. In this image, we see Dido, Queen of Carthage, about to take her own life, surrounded by onlookers, but this artwork is also an incredible testament to the work involved in the production of engravings. Appreciating this aspect helps us see printmaking not just as a reproductive technology, but as a skilled practice in its own right.