Hemelvaart 1602 - 1604

Raffaello Schiaminossi made this print, "Hemelvaart," sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries using an engraving technique. This process involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then transferring the image to paper through a printing press. The texture of the paper and the fine lines created by the engraving tool give the artwork a unique tactile quality. The visual language would have been more immediate than painting. In its time, it would have been relatively inexpensive to produce, and suited for mass distribution. Consider the labor involved: the skilled artisan carefully working the metal, as well as the effort required to manage the press, revealing how this image could reach a wide audience. Looking closely, you can appreciate the precision and skill required to create this image, as Schiaminossi engages with the techniques of printmaking to invite us to consider the social and cultural impact of religious imagery.