De knecht vindt de stervende Werther 1787

Jan Evert Grave made this engraving titled 'The Servant Finds the Dying Werther'. Look closely and you’ll see how the linear quality of the engraving defines the scene. Engraving is a printmaking technique where the design is cut into a metal plate, often copper, using a tool called a burin. The incised lines hold ink, and when the plate is pressed against paper, the image is transferred. Notice how Grave uses cross-hatching and varied line weights to create tone and depth, giving the image a rich, almost velvety texture. The process requires skill and precision. Each line is a deliberate mark, demanding careful planning and execution. The engraver's hand guides the burin, translating emotion into a physical trace on the plate. Here we see the culmination of artistic skill with the social context of Goethe's tragic novel 'The Sorrows of Young Werther'. The book ignited passions and made Grave's image a symbolic representation of tragic love and sensibility.