Groep mensen ontvangt de heilige geest c. 1711s

Willem de Broen made this print, titled *Groep mensen ontvangt de heilige geest*, or *Group of People Receiving the Holy Spirit,* using engraving techniques. Notice the lines incised into the metal plate, a labor-intensive process where the artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve the image in reverse. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The print is made when paper is pressed against the plate. This method allows for intricate detail, which you can see in the expressions of the figures, and precise rendering of light and shadow. The lines create texture, volume, and dramatic intensity, all heightening the spiritual moment depicted. Engraving was crucial for disseminating images and ideas across Europe at this time, linking art to commerce. So, next time you see a print, consider the amount of work involved and how that labor contributes to the artwork's meaning.