Visioen van de rijke man in de hel c. 1575 - 1599

This print, titled "Vision of the Rich Man in Hell," was made by an anonymous artist using the incisive technique of engraving. The stark contrast of light and shadow, achieved through precisely carved lines, lends the scene its dramatic intensity. The linear language is key here, directing our eye through a carefully constructed composition: from the torturous depths of hell to the divine realm above, where God sits in judgement. Engraving demands a high degree of skill and planning. The artist has used a handheld tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate. Ink is then applied, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper. Each print is therefore the result of considerable labor. The medium itself serves the artwork’s message. The precise, reproducible nature of printmaking underscores the inescapability of divine judgement, while offering a vivid lesson in morality accessible to a wide audience. It's a reminder that even materials and processes carry cultural and social meaning, blurring the lines between art, craft, and belief.