Vuur 1586

Hendrick Goltzius made this print, Vuur, using an engraving technique. Look closely, and you’ll notice it's made up entirely of lines, etched into a copper plate. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to dig these lines manually, a process demanding precision and skill. Consider the labor involved. Each line represents a decision, a physical action. The varying thickness and density create the illusion of light and shadow, giving form to the figure of the fire god and the surrounding landscape. The printmaking tradition allowed for the wide distribution of images. So, while seemingly a fine art object, this print also exists within a context of reproduction and dissemination. It brings up questions of accessibility and value, and the relationship between the unique artwork and the multiple. It reminds us that every work of art carries a history of making, labor, and social context within it.