Aanbidding der herders 1604 - 1607

This print, "Adoration of the Shepherds," was made by Jacob Matham, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He worked in the medium of engraving, a painstaking process of incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. Look closely, and you can see how the material qualities of the print - its fine lines and subtle gradations of tone - result directly from this labor-intensive process. Matham has used the burin to create a rich visual texture that almost seems to shimmer. Engraving was a highly skilled, specialized craft, requiring years of training. But it was also a reproductive medium, ideally suited to disseminating images widely, playing an important role in the developing culture of commerce. Note how the inscription at the bottom, in Latin, French, and Dutch, also speaks to a broad audience. Matham's print sits at the intersection of art, craft, and commerce, reminding us that these categories are not always so distinct.