Maria en Johannes de Doper treurend bij het lichaam van Christus 1847 - 1889

William Unger made this print, "Maria en Johannes de Doper treurend bij het lichaam van Christus", using engraving, a process that transforms a metal plate into a matrix for transferring an image. Unger would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into the copper plate. This wasn’t a casual act; it demanded immense skill and control, each precise cut determining the final image's tone and texture. The density of lines creates areas of shadow, giving the scene its somber mood. Unger masterfully uses this technique to convey not just the scene, but the weight of grief. The controlled, repetitive labor of engraving mirrors the laborious nature of artistic production itself, connecting the emotional weight of the scene to the physical work involved in its creation. Looking closely at works like this reminds us that art is not just about the image, but the process and the labor that brings it into being.