Christian III 1750s

Jonas Haas created this print of Christian III sometime in the 1700s, using a metal plate to transfer the image onto paper. It's a great example of the engraver's art, a printmaking technique dependent on the application of considerable force, to incise lines into a metal plate, which then holds ink. Notice how the quality of those lines defines the whole image. Close parallel strokes create areas of shadow, while leaving the paper untouched gives a sense of light. The engraver's skill lies in controlling the pressure and angle of the tool. Haas also would have had to understand the chemical action of acid in order to prepare the plate effectively. Engraving like this was an essential technology for circulating images and information, and required not only artistic ability, but also hard physical labor. In its own way, it helped to make Christian III visible and present to a wider public. This print is not just an image; it's a product of craft, skill, and effort.