Mystieke huwelijk van de heilige Catharina 1646 - 1658

Theodor Matham created this engraving, "Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine," likely in the mid-17th century. An engraving like this begins with a polished metal plate, usually copper, into which the design is carefully incised with a tool called a burin. Look closely, and you can see how the artist has modulated the lines to create shading and depth, a testament to Matham’s skill and the labor-intensive process of engraving, requiring meticulous craftsmanship. This print would have been made by inking the plate, wiping the surface clean, and then running it through a press, transferring the image to paper. Prints like this played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas in early modern Europe, acting as a form of mass media before photography. By understanding the process of its creation, we recognize the engraving not just as a work of art, but as a product of a specific time, technology, and social context.