Engel met attributen van kluizenaar 1644

This is an engraving by Christoffel van Sichem II, made sometime before the mid-17th century. This print on paper shows an angel with the attributes of a hermit. But what does it mean to make an image this way? Engraving is an exacting process, requiring a set of specialized tools to incise an image into a copper plate. The ink sits within these tiny engraved lines, and is transferred to paper under great pressure. As you can see, Sichem has used this process to great effect, creating fine, precise lines that build up to create areas of light and shadow. Notice the texture of the angel's robes, and the delicate rendering of the wings. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, demanding years of training and practice. But it was also a commercial process, used to produce multiple copies of images for a growing market. The very nature of the medium means that images could be widely disseminated. So, next time you look at a print, think about the labor and skill that went into its making, and the ways in which this process shaped its meaning and impact.