Tobias trouwt met Sara, de dochter van Raguel 1563 - 1567

This print, made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum, shows Tobias marrying Sara. It's been achieved through the technique of engraving, a skilled process demanding both precision and artistry. The material itself, a metal plate, is crucial here. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into its surface, creating grooves that hold ink. This required immense control, as any mistake would be difficult to correct. When printed, the ink nestles in those lines, resulting in the image you see. Engraving was a popular method for reproducing images, allowing them to be disseminated widely, like pages in a book. These prints played a vital role in spreading knowledge, news, and artistic ideas across Europe. Skilled engravers were in demand, their labor contributing to the growth of the print industry. So, next time you look at an engraving, consider not just the image, but the labor, materials, and social context embedded in its creation.