Vlucht naar Egypte 1589 - 1626

This engraving of the Flight into Egypt was made by Bartholomeus Willemsz. Dolendo, likely in the late 16th or early 17th century. Dolendo was a master of the burin, a tool used to incise lines into a copper plate. The image is defined by the intricate network of fine lines, each one carefully placed. Look closely, and you’ll see how Dolendo varied the thickness and density of these lines to create a sense of light and shadow, depth, and texture. These lines have the potential to produce multiples, which made this mode of production popular at the time. This method of producing images contrasts sharply with the singular nature of paintings or sculptures. The amount of skill required to produce such an image was considerable. Dolendo’s technical virtuosity made him a sought-after printmaker in his time. We should appreciate the artistic and commercial value of this print, and understand that such prints played a vital role in disseminating images and ideas to a wide audience.