En tiggermunk med sit pakæsel 1845

This small print of a beggar monk with his pack-donkey, was made by H. C. Henneberg, sometime in the 19th century. The artist's chosen method, printmaking, is key here. Notice how the image is built up from many tiny lines. The fine, dense hatching gives the figures form and volume. Printmaking is of course a reproductive medium, ideally suited to mass production. The material qualities of print – its reproducibility, its graphic quality – have often been seen as distinct from the supposedly unique, expressive qualities of drawing or painting. Yet the tremendous labor involved in creating this plate should not be overlooked. The artist's hand is clearly evident in the final product. This combination of mass production with a clear expression of craft values makes this a particularly compelling work. It reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the handmade persists.