The Prophet Elias 1620 - 1953

This print, depicting The Prophet Elias, was created by Nicolas Pitau in the late 17th or early 18th century. It's an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the remarkable level of detail Pitau achieved. Notice how the lines create a sense of depth and texture, from the folds of Elias’s robe to the subtle shading of his face. The materiality of the print, the thinness of the paper, and the precision of the engraved lines, all contribute to the artwork’s overall effect. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, demanding years of training and a steady hand. The engraver's labor is evident in every line, a testament to the value placed on skilled handcraftsmanship. It's a reminder that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the human touch remains essential to the creation of art.