Maria met slapend Christuskind en Johannes de Doper 1650 - 1693

This print, “Maria met slapend Christuskind en Johannes de Doper,” was created by Elias Hainzelmann in the late 17th century, using engraving. Engraving involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The depth and spacing of the lines determine the tonal range. Hainzelmann must have been highly skilled to create the fine details, textures, and shading that give the image its depth. The texture of the fabrics, the softness of the children’s skin, and the overall luminosity wouldn't have been possible otherwise. The printmaking tradition was sustained by trained artisans, working within a market that valued the faithful reproduction of images, both religious and secular. This image reflects the demand for devotional prints during the period, but it also represents the engraver’s labor, a process of skilled handwork that connects art to the wider world of making.