Medusa in tempel van Diana 1739

This print, "Medusa in the Temple of Diana," was made by Jan Goeree around the turn of the 18th century, using the intaglio process. Look closely, and you'll notice the whole image is built from tiny, closely-worked lines. Intaglio is an old technique. The artist would have used a sharp tool called a burin to cut these lines directly into a copper plate. Ink is then forced into these recesses, and the plate is pressed onto paper. This was an established printmaking technique in the early 1700s, involving both artistry and craft. The sharp, controlled lines give the scene a dramatic, almost theatrical feel. You can see this is far removed from our digital age of instant images. The methodical work mirrors the gravity of the tragic scene. The level of detail, from the temple architecture to the expressions on the figures' faces, speaks to the skill and labor that Goeree invested in this print. It is a reminder of the time and effort required to produce images before mechanization.