Zimri pleegt ontucht met Kozbi: het zesde Gebod 1585 - 1589

Jan Collaert the Second made this print, "Zimri pleegt ontucht met Kozbi: het zesde Gebod," meaning Zimri commits fornication with Kozbi: the sixth commandment, around the turn of the 17th century. It's an engraving, where the design is incised into a metal plate, allowing for multiple impressions to be made. Consider the labor involved in this process, and how it speaks to the democratization of images. In this scene, depicting a biblical story of transgression, the artist's choice of printmaking allows for wide distribution of a moral lesson. The linear quality of the engraving, achieved through careful strokes of a burin, conveys the scene's drama with precision. The texture and weight of the paper upon which it’s printed also contribute to the artwork's significance. The relative affordability of printed images reflects broader economic shifts, mirroring a growing merchant class that sought access to art and knowledge. Collaert’s choice of a reproducible medium, and the work it asks of the printmaker, thus collapses the boundary between fine art and a burgeoning world of commercial production.