The Fall of Man 

Etienne Delaune created this print, The Fall of Man, using engraving, a meticulous and exacting process. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, likely copper. The image shows Adam and Eve on either side of the tree, with the serpent coiled around it. Delaune expertly uses line to create shading and texture, giving the scene depth and visual interest. The density of these lines speaks to the considerable labor and skill involved. Engraving was a popular method for reproducing images during the Renaissance. Prints like this would have circulated widely, serving both decorative and didactic functions, bringing allegories like the Fall of Man into many homes. Paying attention to materials and processes allows us to appreciate not just the image, but the skilled work that went into its making, bridging the gap between high art and craft.