Toehoorders bij Johannes de Doper 1650 - 1710

Franz Ertinger made this print, "Listeners to John the Baptist," using etching and engraving techniques. These processes involve coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then using acid to bite the design into the metal. The etched lines create a detailed scene of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness. The depth and texture achieved through the process gives a tactile quality to the figures and landscape. This contrasts with the clean, graphic style often associated with prints. Prints like this were a relatively inexpensive way to circulate images and ideas in the 17th century. They were a commercial product, relying on the skilled labor of artists and printers to reach a wide audience. The act of producing these prints, and the labour that goes into it, highlights how the process of production shapes our understanding and appreciation. The intersection of craft, commerce, and religious narrative reflects the social context in which the artwork was created.