Jakobus de Mindere, Jakobus de Meerdere en Mattias 1583

Agostino Carracci created this print, Jakobus de Mindere, Jakobus de Meerdere en Mattias, using an engraving technique. Engraving is an intaglio process, where the design is cut into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using a tool called a burin. This painstaking process allows for fine detail and precise lines, as we can see here in the rendering of the figures’ robes and facial features. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image is transferred. The crisp lines and tonal variations we observe are a direct result of the engraver's skill. It is a labor-intensive process, requiring both artistic vision and technical mastery. The act of engraving itself, with its reliance on skilled handwork, speaks to a pre-industrial mode of production, connecting it to the wider social issues of labor, skill, and the value of craftsmanship. This challenges the conventional separation of art and craft.