Elisa vervloekt de kinderen 1589 - 1626

Bartholomeus Willemsz. Dolendo made this print, "Elisa vervloekt de kinderen," using engraving techniques. In the 16th century, printmaking was a crucial means of disseminating images. Engraving, in particular, required a high level of skill and craftsmanship. The artist would use a burin to carve lines into a copper plate, which was then inked and printed, transferring the image onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the network of fine lines that create the scene’s details, from the folds in Elisa's robes to the textures of the landscape. This print provided access to biblical scenes for a wide audience, but it was also an industry, where printmakers like Dolendo could produce multiple impressions, turning religious narratives into commodities for sale. While Dolendo had artistic skill, he also had the acumen to engage in what we could call "artistic production".