Begrafenis van een geestelijke 1683 - 1733

This print, *Begrafenis van een geestelijke*, or *Funeral of a Cleric*, was made by Bernard Picart, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. It is wrought from the traditional printmaking materials of paper, ink, and metal. The material qualities here influence the work’s linear and graphic appearance. Observe the etched lines which define the scene, from the skeletal remains in the foreground to the landscape in the distance. As a process, etching involves applying acid to a metal plate to create recessed lines, which then hold ink for printing. This intaglio method allowed Picart to produce multiple impressions of the same image, which democratized visual culture in his time. Prints like these served as a means of disseminating information and ideas. This image speaks to the labor and skill involved in traditional printmaking, a craft essential to the social and cultural landscape of early modern Europe. It reminds us that art is always entangled with the broader currents of labor, production, and consumption.