Salomon ontvangt de koningin van Sheba 1670 - 1675

Gerard de Lairesse created this print of Salomon receiving the Queen of Sheba. Look closely, and you'll see it’s made with the technique of etching, where lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid, and then printed. The success of an etching relies on the artist's mastery of line, using hatching to build up tone and shadow. Think of it as a kind of industrial drawing, capable of being reproduced many times over. In the 17th century, prints like these were a crucial way of circulating imagery. It allowed many people to see an image, disseminating both visual culture and, indeed, power. Interestingly, Lairesse was himself blind for the last years of his life, dictating his theories on art to students. This reminds us that artistic knowledge can be transmitted in many ways.