Moses Receiving the Tablets 1548

This image, made by Augustin Hirschvogel, likely sometime in the mid-16th century, shows the moment when Moses receives the tablets from God. It was made using a printmaking technique called etching. Etching involves covering a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant layer, then scratching into that layer with a needle. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves that hold ink. It's a relatively indirect process, but allows for an incredible fineness of line, which you can see in the detailed rendering of figures and landscape. Consider how the act of reproduction factors into the image itself. Hirschvogel is not only depicting the moment when Moses receives God's law, but is also disseminating that law to a wide audience through the printed image. This brings up the interesting question of how new technologies have changed the way we understand and experience religious narratives. The labor involved in the making of this print has imbued the artwork with its significance, one where making and context are key to understanding its full meaning.