The Ascension of Christ 1745 - 1755

Johann Ignatz Zimbal created this etching, "The Ascension of Christ", sometime in the 18th century. Its lines were carved into a metal plate with a tool called a burin, before being inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the quality of those engraved lines. The artist used hatching and cross-hatching to describe the figures and build up tone, from the dark shadows in the foreground to the ethereal clouds above. It must have taken many hours of labor to produce this level of detail. The print medium itself also has social significance. Unlike a painting or sculpture, prints can be reproduced many times over, and were therefore an ideal vehicle for disseminating religious imagery among a wide audience. In the 1700s, printed images were a powerful tool in spreading ideas and faith. So, next time you look at a print, remember that it is not just an image, but also a product of skilled labor and a reflection of its time. The value lies not only in the aesthetic, but also in the making and the context.