The Visitation 1580 - 1600

This print, “The Visitation,” was created by Abraham de Bruyn sometime before 1587 using the technique of engraving. Engraving involves cutting lines into a metal plate, filling them with ink, and then pressing paper against the plate with tremendous force. Notice the incredible detail: De Bruyn has created a whole world with only the slightest gradations of tone. He’s also framed the central biblical scene with an abundance of natural forms: roosters, grapes, flowers, and pods. In the 16th century, prints like this one were a key way of disseminating images, allowing them to be shared widely and reproduced easily. This was a transformative technology. It put image-making in the hands of skilled artisans like De Bruyn, who performed the labor of transferring designs onto metal plates. With the advent of printmaking, art became more accessible to a wider audience, challenging traditional notions of artistic production. It also enabled skilled engravers to make a living. The material of this work is inseparable from its function and its broader social context.