Nativity 1588

Aegidius Sadeler II made this print of the Nativity sometime between 1583 and 1629, using an engraving technique. The engraver uses a tool called a burin to manually carve lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely and you’ll see the myriad of fine lines, and how they create a sense of light and shadow, defining the figures and drapery. This was a painstaking process that demanded precision and control, honed through years of practice. In Sadeler's time, printmaking was essential for disseminating images and ideas across Europe. Prints like this one allowed for the mass production of religious scenes, making them accessible to a wider audience. By understanding the labor involved in creating this engraving, we can appreciate not only its artistic merit but also its historical and cultural significance as a commodity within a growing industry of art production. It reminds us that even seemingly delicate works of art are the products of skilled labor.