Filosofien giver en ung mand livet 1778

This print, Filosofien giver en ung mand livet, was made by J.F. Clemens, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. The technique used here is engraving, which involves incising lines directly into a metal plate – usually copper – with a tool called a burin. The artist would have used carefully controlled hand pressure to create the fine lines, building up tone and shadow through density of mark. The labor intensity is considerable, demanding both precision and patience. Each print pulled from the plate would carry the marks of this focused effort. The image itself, with its allegorical figures, implies a social hierarchy, contrasting the active ‘giver’ and the passive recipient. Yet the hand-made nature of the engraving, and the skill required, elevate the object beyond mere illustration, reminding us that craft traditions are always grounded in lived labor, and also can give life.