Fotoreproductie van een gravure van De kruisoprichting door Hans Witdoeck, naar het schilderij door Peter Paul Rubens before 1858

This is a photo reproduction of an engraving of ‘The Raising of the Cross’ after Peter Paul Reubens, made by Jean Louis Bargignac in the 19th century. This work exemplifies the reproduction of art through meticulous engraving, a process where an image is incised into a metal plate, allowing for the creation of multiple prints. The lines that define forms, and the cross-hatching creating tonal variations, shows the labor-intensive skill required to translate Reubens’ dynamic composition into a graphic medium. Each mark on the plate would have been carefully placed, demanding precision and an understanding of light and shadow. The social context of printmaking allowed for wider accessibility of artworks, democratizing art ownership in an era before photography became widespread. While Rubens captured the drama of the crucifixion through gestural brushwork and color, Bargignac conveys this intensity through a network of lines, transforming the texture of paint into the linear language of engraving. This work reminds us that the value and meaning of art are deeply intertwined with the processes used to create and share it.