Teachings on the Coming of the Judgment 1580

Léonard Gaultier created this print, "Teachings on the Coming of the Judgment," using the engraving technique. To create this work, Gaultier would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a copper plate, with the ink held in these recessed areas. Then, the plate would have been pressed onto paper to transfer the image. What's interesting here is the very act of multiplication inherent in printmaking. This allowed for the wide distribution of religious teachings in a way that paintings or sculptures in churches could not. Consider the labor involved: the artist, the printer, and the distributors, all contributing to the dissemination of this message. It brings up questions about the commercialization of faith, and the role of art in shaping religious and social beliefs. Ultimately, understanding the "Teachings on the Coming of the Judgment" requires us to think about its material origins, the making process, and its place within a specific historical and social context.