Beheading of Saint John the Baptist c. 1480

Israhel van Meckenem made this print, ‘Beheading of Saint John the Baptist’, around 1490 using the intaglio technique of engraving. Here, a metal plate, likely copper, has been painstakingly incised with lines to create the image. The act of engraving itself is one of controlled violence. The burin, a sharp tool, is pushed through the metal, physically cutting away material. The depth and density of these lines determine the tonal range of the print, from the deepest blacks to the most delicate greys. Look closely, and you can see the incredible precision required to render the scene in such detail. It's worth noting the labor involved in this process. Each line represents a deliberate decision, a physical act of creation. Consider the intense concentration required to produce such a complex composition in reverse! Van Meckenem was not only a skilled artist, but also a master craftsman, deeply invested in the material and the making. In this way, the print transcends its religious subject matter, becoming a testament to human skill, and a complex visualization of labor.