Christus geneest twee blinden 1642 - 1721

This print, Christus geneest twee blinden, was created by Etienne Picart sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It’s made using engraving, a printmaking process that involves incising an image onto a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The stark contrast between light and shadow is achieved through the meticulous labor of cutting lines into the metal. Look closely and you can see the complex network of engraved lines, each one carefully placed to define form and create tonal variation. The precision and skill required for engraving meant that prints were often valued as both artistic and technical achievements. Prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating religious imagery and knowledge across Europe. They were relatively affordable and easily reproducible, making them accessible to a wide audience. This piece reflects a sophisticated and increasingly industrialized system of image production and distribution.