Laatste Avondmaal 1600 - 1620

This engraving of The Last Supper was made by Elias van den Bossche, using a technique that has a fascinating relationship to both art and industry. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process, where the image is incised into a plate, traditionally made of copper. The artist uses a tool called a burin to cut lines into the metal, which then hold ink. The plate is wiped clean, and then forced against a sheet of paper in a high-pressure press. The paper picks up the ink, creating the image. Engraving demands meticulous skill and precision, requiring years of training to master. Although used by artists, it also had crucial industrial applications: reproducing images and texts for mass distribution. This print is a testament to the complex interplay between artistic expression, technical expertise, and the burgeoning world of commerce. It challenges our conventional ideas about art, skill, and the value of labor.