Lucas de evangelist en een heilige in de wolken 1621 - 1694

This print, depicting St. Luke and a holy man amidst the clouds, was made by Antoine Garnier in the 17th century. Garnier used etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production during this period. Look closely, and you'll see the delicate lines and textures created by this method. The etching process begins with coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant layer. The artist then scratches an image into this layer, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away. The longer the acid bath, the deeper the lines, and the more ink they will hold. After cleaning, the plate is inked, and then pressed onto paper. This print is a far cry from the unique paintings of the Renaissance. Etching allowed for the mass production of images, making art accessible to a wider audience, and allowing artists to circulate their ideas more broadly. The labor is intensive, but the multiplication is key. By embracing this technique, Garnier participated in a burgeoning visual culture, and a new economy of images.