Jonge Johannes knielt voor het Christuskind 1599 - 1692

This small print, "Jonge Johannes knielt voor het Christuskind", was made anonymously using the etching technique. An etcher covers a metal plate with a waxy ground, then draws through it with a needle to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid bites away the exposed lines, which are then inked to create the print. The image is defined by its line work. Notice how the density and direction of the etched lines create shading and volume, bringing the figures of the two children to life. This kind of work requires precision and control, demanding a high level of skill. Prints like this one were relatively easy to produce and circulate, making religious imagery accessible to a broad audience, and turning belief into a commodity. We see the same dynamic today, as digital images proliferate. So while this print might seem distant from our time, it already anticipates our own world of mass-produced images.