Heilige Rochus en de pestlijders 1780 - 1851

Joseph Hunin created this print, "Heilige Rochus en de pestlijders"–or “Saint Roch and the Plague Victims”–using engraving, a meticulous intaglio process. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate, inking the plate so the ink fills the grooves, and then transferring the image to paper under great pressure. Looking closely, you’ll notice the fineness of the lines, which create the image out of light and shadow. This technique allowed Hunin to achieve striking tonal contrasts, which heighten the drama of the scene. See how the figures emerge from the dark background, their faces filled with desperation and hope? Engraving like this was not merely a reproductive medium, but a highly skilled craft. Printmaking allowed artists like Hunin to disseminate religious imagery widely. This made it accessible to a broad audience during a time of rampant disease, when faith and divine intervention were especially coveted. It underscores the labor and social context embedded in this type of artwork.