Verrijzenis van Christus 1702 - 1767

Jacob Folkema created this print, "Verrijzenis van Christus," using the technique of engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process. A design is cut into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using a tool called a burin. The incised lines are then filled with ink, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The precision required speaks to the engraver's skill. Notice the textures achieved through the varying densities of lines, from the radiant light surrounding Christ to the tangled forms of the sleeping soldiers. Engraving was crucial for disseminating images and ideas in the early modern period. Prints like these democratized access to religious narratives. Rather than commissioning an expensive painting, people could acquire affordable prints, thus fostering a wider engagement with faith and art. This engraving allowed the message of the Resurrection to be distributed far beyond the walls of a church. Appreciating the labor-intensive process of engraving helps us understand its social impact.