Laat uw wil gedaan worden op aarde zoals in de hemel / Geef ons vandaag het brood dat wij nodig hebben / Vergeef ons onze schulden, zoals ook wij hebben vergeven wie ons iets schuldig was / Breng ons niet in beproeving 1569 - 1573

This print was made by Wierix around the turn of the 17th century, using the intaglio process of engraving. The image is produced by incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink to the recessed areas, and then pressing paper against the plate. Engraving is essentially a reproductive technique, capable of circulating images widely. Here, the multiplication of the crosses is visually striking, each one representing the burdens of earthly existence. Look at the amount of labor suggested by the image – the toil of carrying these heavy wooden beams, and indeed the labor required to make them. The artist’s skilled hand is evident in the intricate linework that defines form and texture. The use of a matrix allows for endless reproduction, speaking to both the mass production of images, and the mass suffering depicted. Consider how the physicality of the engraving process – the pressure, the cutting, the inking – mirrors the physical and spiritual weight of the scene. The image challenges us to think about the relationship between artistic labor, mass production, and the social realities of the time, underscoring the value of craft in understanding broader cultural and economic contexts.