Christus aan het kruis 1774 - 1779

Paul Haubenstricker created this print of the Crucifixion at some point in the late 18th century. The process of printmaking transforms the role of the artist, and invites a new understanding of the relationship between labor, material, and artistic intention. Notice the density of marks the artist has made to create this image. Each line is the result of a physical engagement with the plate, cutting into the metal in precise ways. Consider that this matrix could then be used to produce many identical images – this is how prints were crucial for spreading ideas in the early modern period. And the impact goes beyond the merely informational. Haubenstricker’s print is not just an image, but an object deeply informed by the processes used to bring it into being. This is true of all works of art.