Mozes slaat water uit de rots 1829 - 1898

This print of Moses drawing water from the rock was made by Auguste Thomas Marie Blanchard in the 19th century, using a technique called etching and engraving. The image is all about line, from the fine hatching that models the figures to the bold outlines of the rocky landscape. Look closely and you can see how Blanchard has used a sharp tool to cut these lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed. This was a highly skilled, labor-intensive process, requiring years of training. Prints like this were part of a huge industry, meeting the 19th-century demand for accessible images. They could be reproduced in large numbers, making art and information available to a wide audience. In this sense, Blanchard's print is not just a religious image, but also a product of its time, reflecting the rise of mass media and the democratization of art. It shows how even traditional fine art techniques have a place in the story of industrial production.