Christ As the Man of Sorrows 1608 - 1612

Jan Muller created this print, *Christ as the Man of Sorrows,* sometime around the turn of the 17th century. It's made with a technique called engraving, a meticulous process of incising lines into a copper plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you’ll see that the whole image is built up from these tiny engraved lines. Muller was a master of this demanding craft. The material qualities of the print – its crispness, its fine detail, its ability to capture light and shadow – all stem from his skill with the burin, the engraving tool. But, the print also speaks to broader social and economic conditions. The printmaking trade was booming at this time, driven by the demand for affordable images. While Muller's artistry is evident, so is the labor-intensive nature of printmaking itself. Each line painstakingly etched, each print carefully pulled. This reflects the culture of production in the early modern period, where handcraftsmanship was still central, even in a world of emerging markets. So, next time you see a print, remember it’s not just an image, it’s a testament to skill, labor, and the changing landscape of art and industry.