Luke, from The Four Evangelists 1610 - 1620

This engraving of Saint Luke was made by Pieter Feddes van Harlingen in the 17th century, using the intaglio process. Here, a metal plate was incised with lines to hold ink. The process is inherently reproductive. Though each impression is an original, the point is to make many of them. Notice the incredible intricacy of the engraving; the network of fine lines evokes tone and texture, bringing Luke to life. Consider the sheer labor involved in creating such a matrix, and the number of impressions that could then be pulled from it. Engravings like this were more than just devotional images. They were also a form of currency, a means of disseminating ideas and stories widely, contributing to a culture of mass production, long before industrialization. Thinking about this print, we realize that even seemingly traditional images are tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. That is the real power of craft.