Jozef van Cupertino zweeft boven een altaar 1855 - 1870

This print by Ferdinand Théodore Hannotiau depicts Jozef van Cupertino floating above an altar. It's made using a technique called engraving, where lines are cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Engraving is a labor-intensive process. Each line you see required a deliberate, skilled action. The material—metal—demands precision and control. Look at the ways the lines create a sense of light and shadow. Notice how they define the textures of the clothing and the architectural setting. The very act of engraving lends a certain formality to the image. Prints like this were often produced in multiples, making art more accessible, but it's worth remembering the time and effort that went into creating the original plate. The image is not simply a representation, but an index of the maker’s hand, and the history of reproductive technologies. Approaching it in this way allows us to look beyond the represented scene, and appreciate the materiality of the medium.