Group from the Last Judgment, Angels Carrying the Column of the Flagellation and the Sponge and Ladder of the Crucifixion 1500 - 1565

This print, made by Domenico del Barbiere, depicts a scene from the Last Judgement with angels bearing the instruments of Christ's Passion. It's a relatively humble object, made by incising lines into a metal plate - probably copper or zinc - and then using this to transfer ink onto paper. The image is powerful and raw. Look at the sheer labor it shows; muscled figures straining to carry heavy objects. But consider also the labor that went into the making of the print itself. Each line, each shadow, carefully etched by hand. This was not just a mechanical process; it required great skill and control. Prints like this played an important role in disseminating artistic ideas. They were a form of mass production, making images accessible to a wider audience. In a way, this print democratizes Michelangelo’s vision. It takes it off the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and puts it into the hands of ordinary people. It reminds us that all art, even the most elevated, is rooted in material and making.