De hellige tre Konger og den babyloniske skøge 1916

This etching, "De hellige tre Konger og den babyloniske skøge," or "The Three Holy Kings and the Babylonian Whore," was made by J.A. Jerichau II. Jerichau has used the intaglio printmaking technique of etching to create this small plate. The image is formed through the manipulation of a metal plate, likely copper. The artist would have applied a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then scratched through it with a sharp needle to expose the metal. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is then forced into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under pressure. Looking closely, we can see that Jerichau has used quite a lot of cross-hatching to create the dark tonal areas of the composition. This labour-intensive process speaks to the artist's commitment, and the many hours spent on a single print. The title juxtaposes sacred and profane subjects. In this, it aligns with a broader artistic trend of the early 20th century, when artists sought to break down traditional hierarchies.