De Heilige Familie bij de rozenstruik 1488 - 1490

This image of the Holy Family by the Master of the Amsterdam Cabinet was made using a printing technique called engraving. The artist would have used a tool known as a burin to manually carve lines into a copper plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, and wiped off the surface, leaving ink only in the carved lines. Finally, paper is pressed onto the plate, transferring the image. The lines in this engraving are remarkably fine and densely packed, creating a sense of depth and texture. The artist used cross-hatching and subtle variations in line weight to model the figures and create a soft, atmospheric light. This painstaking and highly skilled process would have required immense patience, precision, and control of the burin. The very act of engraving, a process of slow and deliberate labor, infuses the image with its contemplative mood. By understanding the hands-on labor involved, we can appreciate the artistry and dedication required to create this intimate image.