H. Franciscus biddend 1611

Jacob Matham created this engraving, H. Franciscus biddend, in the late 16th or early 17th century, using the subtractive process of engraving. The image is made by incising lines into a metal plate, and then applying ink, which is then transferred to paper. In this image, the lines are incredibly fine and densely packed, creating a range of tonal values from light to dark. Look closely and you can see the way Matham has used hatching and cross-hatching to build up shadows, giving a sense of depth and volume to the figure of St. Francis. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, requiring years of training to master the tools and techniques. The engraver had to have a deep understanding of the material properties of the metal, as well as a steady hand and keen eye. This print would have been made as part of a printmaking industry, in which the labor of design and cutting were divided. Matham's virtuosity is on full display in this print, and demonstrates the elevation of printmaking from a mechanical process to an art form.