Heilige Familie met Johannes de Doper en engelen 1636 - 1679

This print of The Holy Family with John the Baptist and Angels was made by Frans van den Wijngaerde, sometime in the 17th century. It's an etching, meaning the artist would have coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, then scratched an image into it with a needle. The plate would then have been bathed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal. Finally, the plate would have been inked and printed. The success of an etching hinges on mark-making. Notice the varying density of lines, used to create tone and shadow. This is not just a picture, it is an accumulation of labor. Wijngaerde's skill is evident in the control he exerts over the etched line. Though the image depicts a sacred scene, the artist’s real mastery lies in his manipulation of materials. So, when looking at prints like this, we are also seeing a record of manual dexterity, and a creative economy based on skilled production. The print medium allowed for wider distribution and accessibility of images, playing an important role in shaping religious and cultural ideas.