Laatste Avondmaal 1675

Pietro Aquila created this engraving of the Last Supper around 1680, using the relatively new technology of the printing press. Engraving demands a highly skilled hand, using a burin to cut lines into a metal plate. Ink is then pressed into these lines, and the image transferred to paper. The fine, precise lines you see are a testament to the engraver's control and patience. But let's also consider the wider context. Engravings like this made images accessible to a broad audience, democratizing art in a way previously unimaginable. This wasn't about unique masterpieces, but about reproduction, dissemination, and reaching as many people as possible. The print medium also fueled a burgeoning market, where art became a commodity, traded and consumed. So, while admiring Aquila's skill, remember that this print exists at the intersection of artistic talent, technological innovation, and the rise of a more commercialized society. It blurs the lines between art, craft, and industry, inviting us to consider how making shapes not just objects, but also culture.