The Three Women Returning from the Tomb 1585 - 1629

"The Three Women Returning from the Tomb" was produced by Aegidius Sadeler II around the late 16th or early 17th century, using engraving techniques. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process, where the artist carefully cuts lines into a metal plate, often copper. These lines hold ink, and when pressed onto paper, they create the image. The precision required is immense, demanding not just artistic skill but also specialized knowledge of metallurgy, toolmaking, and printing. Look closely and you can see the marks of the burin, the tool used to carve the image, which create the texture and the light. The engraver’s labor is crucial to the success of the final print, yet often goes unnoticed in favor of the image itself. This piece reminds us that art is not just about the image, but also about the process, the material, and the often-unseen labor that brings it to life.