Adam met slang en appel en liggende stier 1524

This tiny print, Adam met slang en appel en liggende stier, was made by Sebald Beham in the 16th century using an engraving technique. Beham incised lines into a copper plate with a tool called a burin; the plate would then be inked and printed. The real skill here is in the control of the engraver’s hand, which renders every contour with absolute precision. The muscularity of Adam, the texture of the foliage, the scales of the serpent – all these are described by a system of fine lines. Because of the subtlety of the medium, it was easily reproducible. Printmaking allowed for the relatively inexpensive dissemination of images and ideas. Note that this is not some unique artistic creation, like a painting, but rather, one impression pulled from a matrix that could be printed many times over, and sold at a reasonable price. In this way, even a biblical scene became a commodity. Inexpensive prints like these helped to create a visual culture available to a wide range of people. It brings art closer to everyday life.