Dronkenschap van Noach 1558 - 1643

This engraving, titled "Dronkenschap van Noach" or "The Drunkenness of Noah," was made in the late 16th century by Cornelis Cort. Cort was a master printmaker, and this work shows off the extraordinary skill involved in that craft. Engraving is an intaglio process. The artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a copper plate. Ink is then forced into these lines, and the surface of the plate is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image transfers. Notice the fineness of the lines, and how they create a full tonal range, from the deepest blacks to delicate grays. Consider the labor involved, the intense concentration required to produce such detail. Printmaking in this period was not just a means of artistic expression, but a crucial industry, a form of mass media. Cort’s technical virtuosity, therefore, connects directly to the social and economic landscape of his time. Hopefully, looking closely at the materials and making of this artwork, you have a greater appreciation for its historical significance, beyond purely aesthetic concerns.