De drie theologische deugden 1825 - 1883

Theodoor Schaepkens made this print, "The Three Theological Virtues," using etching, a process that demands meticulous labor and careful attention. To create this image, the artist first applied a waxy ground to a metal plate, then scratched an image into the ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. This painstaking process required physical effort and skilled knowledge to control the depth and width of the etched lines, and it was repeated multiple times to achieve the desired contrast of light and shadow. The final print, made by inking the plate and pressing it onto paper, bears witness to the labor-intensive techniques of printmaking, a world of craft so often overlooked by traditional art history. The tonal range from light to dark is a direct result of this method, a marriage of material, skill, and artistic vision. By focusing on this work, we can begin to blur the lines between art, craft, and the social context that brought them to life.