Engelen brengen het Heilig Huis naar Loreto 1825 - 1891

Jean Théodore Joseph Linnig created this print, 'Engelen brengen het Heilig Huis naar Loreto', using a burin to incise lines into a copper plate. The printmaking process, unlike painting or sculpture, allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, and this one seems to have been made for mass consumption. You can see that the image is comprised of finely engraved lines and textures. The level of detail in this print suggests a practiced hand, implying years of experience in the printmaking trade. Note how the quality of the lines helps create tonality, suggesting the softness of the clouds and the luminosity of the divine figures. The image suggests a time when the Catholic Church exerted considerable cultural influence, with printmakers creating a demand for devotional images. The relatively low cost of production allowed these prints to circulate widely, making art accessible to a broader public. Paying attention to the materials, making, and socio-economic context in which objects are made, helps us to look beyond traditional hierarchies of art, and better understand the story behind the image.