Allegorische titelpagina met aartsvader Abraham en Waarheid 1728

This Allegorical Titlepage with Abraham and Truth, was made by Jan Wandelaar in the 18th century, using etching, and engraving. At first glance, this print might seem like a straightforward religious scene, but let’s consider how the artist's choices complicate that impression. Wandelaar has employed etching and engraving, processes of considerable skill and labor. These are the tools of reproduction and communication; they bring images to a broad public. The very act of creating such an image in this way inflects its meaning. Here, Abraham is not just a biblical figure, but a subject rendered through skilled labor, a commodity produced for consumption. The sharp lines and tonal variations were achieved by a combination of etching, which allows for softer lines, and engraving, which provides greater precision. So, when you look at this print, don’t just see a scene from the Bible. Consider the labor, the skill, and the means of production that brought it into being, which challenges the distinction between high art and craft.