Heilige Eustachius c. 1659 - 1677

Marcus de Bye made this small print, "Heilige Eustachius," using etching. The magic of etching is that it allows the artist to create finely detailed, atmospheric scenes like this. De Bye would have covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then drawn his design with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. Immersing the plate in acid would bite away at the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is then applied, filling only the etched lines before the surface is wiped clean and the image printed. Here, the controlled, precise lines bring the story of Saint Eustachius to life. You see every hair on the horse, and every fold in the saint's robes. This wasn't just about religious devotion, but a demonstration of technical mastery, elevating printmaking to an art form that could rival painting. It's through this intricate process that the image gains its power, inviting us to contemplate the relationship between faith, skill, and the material world.