Reproductie van een schets van een ontwerp van een frontispice voor een liturgisch boek, afgebeeld Christus op een troon before 1896

This is a reproduction of a design sketch for a frontispiece in a liturgical book, by Joseph Casier. It's a lithograph, which means it was drawn on a flat stone or metal plate, then printed using oily inks. What interests me is the amount of labor that would go into a seemingly simple image like this. Consider the skilled hand needed to render the fine lines, the way the ink is precisely placed to create depth and shadow. And think about the original context, how this frontispiece would set the tone for the entire book, meant for religious ceremony. This wasn't just a mass-produced object; it was crafted with care, connecting the artisan to the spiritual purpose of the text. It invites us to appreciate the beauty of skilled craft and the cultural significance imbued through the making process. This reminds us not to underestimate the value and meaning embedded in objects made with intention and expertise.