Laatste Oordeel 1640 - 1696

This print of the Last Judgement was made by Bartholomäus Kilian the Younger, around the mid-17th century, using the technique of engraving. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process, meaning that the image is incised into a metal plate, usually copper, using a tool called a burin. The artist pushes the burin through the metal, creating clean, precise lines. Ink is then applied to the plate and wiped off the surface, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The Last Judgement is a scene brimming with figures, texture, and tone – all achieved through the precise, laborious work of engraving. The density of line speaks to the time and skill involved. In its own way, engraving was a mode of production, highly skilled and painstaking, making images available to a wide audience. By understanding the labor that went into this print, we can appreciate its cultural significance, as well as Kilian's mastery of the medium.