Absaloms knechten doden zijn broer Amnon 1720 - 1728

This print, titled "Absalom's Servants Kill His Brother Amnon", was made by Joseph Mulder in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is executed in the intaglio process of engraving, which involves scoring an image directly into a metal plate, applying ink, and then pressing paper against it. The image, a biblical scene, teems with social and political commentary. In terms of material, it’s relatively straightforward: metal, ink, and paper. But it's the labor invested in the making that gives it meaning. Every line meticulously carved by hand, with careful attention to light and shadow to create depth and drama. Engraving was a skilled, painstaking craft. Mulder would have trained for years to achieve this level of precision. The print could then be multiplied, so knowledge and ideas could circulate more easily. Although it is “just” a print, this artwork stands as an important testament to the enduring power of craft and making.