Figuren rond een allegorisch grafmonument voor Sidney Godolphin, 1e graaf van Godolphin 1735 - 1741

This print, made by Jacques Philippe Le Bas, features etching, engraving, and the drypoint technique. These processes, though distinct, all involve the careful removal of material from a metal plate, demonstrating skilled artistic labor. Consider the time and precision required to incise these lines. The matrix of marks creates a rich, tonal range. The contrast between light and dark is skillfully deployed to bring out the forms of the figures and architectural setting. The allegorical scene memorializes Sidney Godolphin, the 1st Earl of Godolphin. It invites us to ponder the relationship between wealth, power, and commemoration. The print’s linear quality, so dependent on the material properties of metal and the controlled use of tools, provides a tactile, graphic demonstration of the labor involved in its production. This piece reminds us that even seemingly simple images involve human effort, and that materials and processes are always imbued with social and cultural meaning.