Lamech met zijn vrouw en kinderen 1530

This print, titled *Lamech met zijn vrouw en kinderen*, was made anonymously. It’s an etching, created by coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then scratching an image into that surface. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, allowing for detailed, linear images to be reproduced many times over. The process democratized image-making, allowing a wider distribution of pictures than was possible with unique works of art. This was particularly true of religious imagery like this one. Prints like this met a growing demand for personal connection to Biblical stories, in an era when religious authority was hotly contested. The image depicts Lamech, a figure from the Book of Genesis, with his family. While seemingly traditional in its subject matter, the print points to a shift in artistic production that challenged traditional hierarchies of art. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images can carry complex social and cultural meanings.