The Crucifixion with the Two Thieves, plate ten from the Life of the Virgin and Christ c. 1470

Francesco Rosselli’s “The Crucifixion with the Two Thieves” is an engraving, printed on paper. Rosselli has used line engraving to describe the scene of the crucifixion. If you look closely, you can see that the image is composed of thousands of tiny lines, each one carefully incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto the paper. The processes involved in creating this print are just as significant as the image it depicts. The artist’s skill as an engraver is very apparent in the level of detail that he has achieved. But in order to produce multiple copies of his work, he had to rely on the skills of other artisans, printers, and distributors, highlighting a complex early capitalist system of production, where many people collaborate to create the work. By considering the labor involved in its production, we can appreciate the full significance of this small but powerful artwork.