Grafmonument voor Martin Luther 1746

This print, "Graftombe voor Martin Luther," was made by Jan Caspar Philips in Amsterdam. It's an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, with tools called burins and scrapers. The precision of line in the printmaking process had a direct relationship to early capitalism. Printmaking made images and information widely accessible in a way that hadn't been possible before. Look closely, and you can see how Philips carefully worked the metal plate to create light and shadow, giving the figures a sense of depth. The inscription at the bottom tells us it was made in Amsterdam, reflecting a growing market for printed images during the 18th century. Printmakers like Philips were responding to a demand for portraits, religious scenes, and other subjects that appealed to a broad audience. It's not just a work of art, but a product of its time, reflecting the values and beliefs of the society in which it was made.