An Execution of Seven Boores Rebels in Lintz, June 16, 1636 1839

This print, whose maker is now unknown, shows the execution of seven rebels in Linz, Austria, in 1636. The image is made with etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to incise lines into a metal plate. If you look closely, you can see how the etched lines vary in thickness, suggesting a carefully controlled process. But the evenness of the marks also hints at the distancing effect of reproductive media. Unlike a unique drawing or painting, prints can be reproduced endlessly, circulating images far and wide. The relatively uniform, thin lines that define the architecture and the figures in the crowd are at odds with the gruesome scene depicted. The process of etching, therefore, becomes part of the picture. The relatively mechanical character of the medium reflects the detached attitude of the authorities overseeing the execution. By attending to the material and process of the artwork, we can better understand the social context in which it was created. The print is not simply a record of an event, but also a reflection of the power dynamics at play in 17th-century Europe.