Engel met lans en nagels 1608 - 1658

This engraving, "Angel with Lance and Nails," was made by Abraham Hogenberg in the 17th century. It’s a print, meaning that the image was carved into a metal plate, inked, and then transferred to paper. This is a process that allows for multiples, and that immediately situates the image in a world of distribution, consumption, and, yes, commerce. Consider the angel, with the instruments of Christ’s torture: the lance, the nails, the mallet. Hogenberg has paid close attention to their textures. The rough-hewn wood of the mallet, and the cold, sharp metal of the lance. Think of the labor required to produce these implements, not only in the original act of crucifixion, but in their repeated representation. Engraving itself is a labor-intensive process, demanding intense concentration and skill. Look closely, and you can see the marks of the engraver’s hand. This wasn’t just a means of illustration, but a way of thinking through materials, making, and their social context.