Visioen van de H. Hieronymus 1548 - 1570

This is an engraving called "The Vision of Saint Jerome," made by an anonymous artist. It's printed on paper, through a labor-intensive process. Engraving involves meticulously cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then pressing the plate onto paper. Notice the crisp, precise lines which create a range of tonal effects. The stark contrast between light and dark further enhances the dramatic, visionary quality of the image. The print is a product of skilled labor and a complex industrial process for its time. As a medium, engraving allowed for the wide distribution of images, and thus, ideas. The artist is participating in a print market. They would have likely been responding to societal interests, while also earning their keep. It’s important to consider the social and economic context in which this print was made, and the ways in which the medium itself shaped its meaning.