The monument raised for Holy Week (Semana Santa) in the Church of the monastery of El Escorial, from a series of Views of El Escorial 1785 - 1795

Manuel Alegre’s print captures the monument raised for Holy Week in the Church of the monastery of El Escorial. It’s made from the relatively humble materials of paper, ink and metal. The technique used is etching, a printmaking process that relies on acid to bite into a metal plate, creating lines that hold ink. Look closely, and you can see the fine web of lines that define the architecture and the figures. The monument itself, rendered meticulously, is an ephemeral construction. The print exists thanks to skilled labor: the etcher, the printer, and the paper maker. Consider too the labor embodied in the monument it depicts, undoubtedly realized through collective effort and ingenuity. By focusing on the processes, both artistic and ritualistic, we can better understand its cultural significance. In doing so, we can move beyond traditional art historical boundaries, recognizing the value and meaning embedded in diverse forms of making.