Abraham en de drie engelen 1704 - 1785

This small print, Abraham and the Three Angels, was made by Jan Lauwryn Krafft through engraving, a method of cutting lines into a metal plate. Engraving is an indirect process. Krafft used a tool called a burin to incise lines into a copper plate. The incised lines hold ink, and when pressed against paper, they create the image. The density and direction of the engraved lines define forms, textures, and tonal values. Look closely at the fine, parallel lines that create the shadows and the folds of the figures’ garments. Notice how the density of the lines varies to suggest depth and volume. Engraving requires considerable skill. Beyond the mastery of metalworking, the artist also needs a deep understanding of perspective, composition, and storytelling. This print belongs to a wider history of graphic reproduction, in which images were made widely accessible. Appreciating the material and the making process allows us to understand not only the image, but also its cultural significance.