Christus in het huis van Martha en Maria 1555 - 1608

Pieter van der Borcht the Elder made this engraving, “Christus in het huis van Martha en Maria,” sometime in the late 16th century. It's a busy scene, and the method of its making suits the subject matter perfectly. Think of the labor involved in creating an engraving like this. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a copper plate. Every single mark you see here was made deliberately, a testament to skillful handwork. It's a demanding, time-consuming process, requiring both precision and artistry, not unlike the work in the busy kitchen depicted. The contrast between the figures of Martha and Maria is highlighted by the detailed depiction of everyday tasks and the contrasting image of tranquil contemplation. As a print, this image would have circulated widely, bringing the artist’s labor into many households. Its fine lines and textures, achieved through painstaking engraving, mirror the labor and skill associated with domestic tasks. Engravings like this remind us that even seemingly simple images are the product of immense effort and expertise.