Jakob kust Rachel / Esau omhelst Jakob 1615 - 1651

This print, made by an anonymous artist, is rendered in ink on paper. It uses a technique known as engraving. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, likely copper. The density of these etched lines creates a range of tonal values, from light to dark. Notice how this meticulous, linear process lends the scenes depicted a crisp, graphic quality. The two narrative moments shown here, derived from the book of Genesis, suggest that the print was made for didactic purposes. Prints like this one were relatively inexpensive to produce and disseminate, especially compared to paintings or sculptures. So, while the engraver may have possessed considerable skill, the work's relatively low cost and wide circulation positions it within a more democratic sphere of visual culture. The work's small scale also suggests it may have been included in a book. In any case, remembering that context is crucial to fully appreciate this small but evocative work.