Reproductie van een prent van een schild met een leeuw, vastgehouden door een engel door Martin Schongauer before 1872

This print, a reproduction of a work by Martin Schongauer, was made by Simonau & Toovey. It's an intimate work, made with the printmaking process of engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate and then printed, resulting in an image of both delicacy and strength. Look closely, and you'll see the sharp precision made possible by the engraver's burin, each line carefully placed to create a sense of depth and texture. But engraving is also a laborious process, and the amount of work involved in the production process is immense, reflecting both the skill of the artisan and the economic structures that supported such practices. The image reproduces a shield with a lion held by an angel. The linear quality of the engraving lends itself well to heraldic imagery, conveying a sense of authority through its crisp lines. The artist has engaged with traditions of graphic reproduction alongside histories of creative practices and aesthetics. By attending to the materials, processes, and cultural context of this print, we can better appreciate its full meaning and significance, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.