Glasraam 5 in de Sint-Janskerk te Gouda: Bezoek van de koningin van Seba aan Salomo 1738 - 1754

Pieter Tanjé created this print of a stained-glass window in the Sint-Janskerk in Gouda, likely sometime in the mid-18th century, using etching and engraving. The image replicates a monumental glass work, showing the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon. Tanjé masterfully captures the luminous quality of the stained glass, translating color into a sophisticated play of light and shadow through precisely etched lines. The printmaking process itself is deeply connected to labor and commerce. Etching and engraving demanded skilled craftsmanship. The production of multiple prints allowed for wider distribution of the window's imagery, making it accessible beyond the church walls, like a proto form of mass media. Consider how Tanjé transformed the ephemeral, light-filled nature of glass into the permanent, reproducible form of a print. It's a testament to the enduring power of craft, capable of bridging different materials, eras, and artistic intentions.