The Apostles Looking at Christ and the Virgin in a Glory of Angels (top right plate) 1546

This print, "The Apostles Looking at Christ and the Virgin in a Glory of Angels", was created by Léon Davent around the mid-16th century using a metal engraving technique. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a plate, likely copper. Look closely, and you'll see the delicate network of lines that define form, shadow, and texture. The artist painstakingly cut these lines with a tool called a burin. Ink was then applied to the plate, pushed into the grooves, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, the image was transferred to paper under high pressure in a printing press. Consider the level of skill involved in this early form of mechanical reproduction. The engraver wasn't just copying an image; they were translating its tonal values into a language of line. Each cut was a conscious decision, influencing the final appearance of the print. This process, and the labor it represents, shouldn't be overlooked. It's a testament to the ingenuity and artistry inherent in what we might casually call a 'reproduction.'