Heilige familie met Johannes en engel 1634 - 1679

Nicolas Pierre Loir created this print, depicting the Holy Family with John and an angel, using etching techniques. The etched lines define the forms and create a sense of depth through hatching and cross-hatching. Unlike painting where color and tone are layered, here, it's all about the controlled removal of material. The artist would have used acid to bite into a metal plate, leaving behind the lines that hold the ink. It's a skilled process demanding precision and control. The linear quality gives the image a graphic feel, setting it apart from the painterly effects often associated with the depiction of religious subjects. It invites us to consider the value of labor, contrasting the mass-produced potential of printmaking with the singularity of a painting. So, next time you see a print, think about the hand and the acid that brought it into being, and how this affects its meaning.