Roof van Helena c. 1560 - 1595

This print, Roof van Helena, was made by Julius Goltzius sometime before 1595. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. Notice the fineness of the lines, and the way that they create tone and texture. To achieve this level of detail, Goltzius would have used specialized tools called burins and scrapers, manipulating the metal with extreme precision. Engraving was often used to reproduce paintings for a wider audience, but it’s just as valid to consider it a distinct art form. The graphic intensity, the sheer labor involved, and the unique visual language of the medium, all give it a special presence. Consider that the printmaking profession would have involved a whole network of workers, from the person who mined and refined the metal, to the printer who pulled the impressions. Seen in this light, the print offers a fascinating glimpse into the artistic and economic world of the Renaissance.