Design for a Monumental Altar, Plate c from 'Unterschiedliche Neu Inventierte Altäre mit darzu gehörigen Profillen u. Grundrißen.' 1745 - 1755

This drawing was made by Georg Gottfried Winckler, and is a design for a monumental altar. It’s an etching – a printmaking process that uses acid to create lines in a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. The crisp lines of the etching beautifully capture the altar’s intricate details. Notice the texture and weight that the artist creates through densely packed marks, giving the impression of solid, carved stone. The symmetrical, multi-tiered structure exudes grandeur. The labor involved in creating such an altar would have been immense, requiring many skilled stone carvers. The design reflects not only artistic vision, but also the socio-economic realities of the time. Grand altars like this were potent symbols of power, both religious and secular. The print allows the design to be disseminated widely, to any patron considering such a project. Considering the materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate the full meaning of this drawing. It challenges our conventional distinctions between art, design, and the world of labor.