De Zondvloed 1681

This print, "De Zondvloed," was made by Jan Edelinck in the late 17th century, using engraving techniques. Look closely, and you’ll notice the dense network of tiny lines that create light, shadow, and texture. Engraving is an exacting process. The artist uses a tool called a burin to cut lines directly into a metal plate. This requires immense skill, as each line must be precise. The plate is then inked, and the ink is caught in the engraved lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image transfers. Think about the labor involved: the careful planning, the steady hand, the time spent incising each line. This was before the age of mechanical reproduction, when prints like this were a primary means of disseminating images. The very materiality of the engraving, with its intricate lines born of focused labor, speaks to a pre-industrial world where craft and art were deeply intertwined. It's a world away from the effortless images we see today.