Saint Paul 1726

Michel Aubert made this print of Saint Paul in the 18th century, using a technique called engraving. This is an intaglio process, where the image is incised into a metal plate, ink is applied, and then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Then, under great pressure, the image is transferred to paper. The linear precision of engraving, achieved with a tool called a burin, allows for incredibly detailed renderings. Notice how Aubert uses the varying thickness and density of lines to create a sense of light, shadow, and texture. Engraving in this period was a highly skilled profession, often connected to the print industry. The engravers were tasked with reproducing paintings for wider distribution. Although such prints are often seen as lesser than painting, requiring labor and skill from a different social class than fine artists, prints like this played a vital role in disseminating images and ideas throughout society. Considering this print reminds us that what we think of as art is always connected to wider systems of production, labor, and consumption.