Scènes uit het leven van Christus 1612 - 1652

These scenes from the life of Christ were etched anonymously. The images are printed from a metal plate, likely copper. An etcher would have applied a waxy ground, drawn the composition with a needle, and then bathed the plate in acid. This bites into the metal wherever it’s exposed, creating recessed lines, and holding ink for printing. The fineness of the lines suggests the artist was highly skilled in using tools and materials, achieving delicate tonal variations. The production of prints like this allowed for wider dissemination of religious imagery, which can be tied to social issues of labor, politics, and consumption at the time. It also speaks to the amount of work involved in the production process. It's easy to overlook the etcher’s labor, but understanding the methods and materials that go into such works expands our appreciation and challenges assumptions about the boundary between fine art and craft.