Riviergod en de wolf 1599

This engraving of a river god and a wolf was made in 1599 by Lucas van Haelwech. Intaglio printmaking, as seen here, is an indirect process. The artist first creates an image on a metal plate, in this case using a tool called a burin to incise lines. Ink is then forced into the grooves, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, paper is laid on top and run through a press, transferring the ink and image. The pressure involved in this process gives prints a unique character; you can even see the plate mark around the image. Also, notice how van Haelwech used hatching, that is, closely spaced parallel lines, to create areas of tone and shadow, to suggest a play of light across the figures. In a time before photography, printmaking was crucial for disseminating images, spreading ideas more broadly. The labor-intensive techniques were foundational to both artistic expression and social communication. So, considering these processes helps us to appreciate the work not just as an image, but as a product of skilled craft and cultural exchange.