Oprechte Lammert en Deughdighe Geertruyd 1612 - 1652

Here is a print made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. It is a double portrait of a man and woman, and was made using engraving, a process with a long social history. Engraving is an incisive technique. The artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The depth and precision of these lines allow for incredible detail. Look closely and you can see the texture in their clothing, and the expressions on their faces. Engraving was crucial for disseminating knowledge and imagery. Think of it as the printing press for pictures, a technology that made mass communication possible. Like any mode of production, engraving depended on skilled labor, and a whole economy sprung up around it. These prints were affordable, portable, and spread ideas about culture, politics, and fashion across geographical and social boundaries. Next time you encounter a print, remember that it is not just an image, but an object deeply embedded in the history of making. This history challenges our ideas around fine art and craft.