The Graven Image: The Rise of Professional Printmakers in Antwerp and Harlem, 1540-1640 - Softcover

The ninety prints in this exhibition catalog trace the evolution of several styles of engraving and etching over a crucial period. At the beginning of this time, engraving in Northern Europe was primarily a by-product of the goldsmith's workshop and the artist's studio. Its implications as a medium of reproduction were only beginning to be grasped, and the very idea of reproducing a work of art in another medium was scarcely defined. By the end of the period, engraving was the medium of choice for making reproductions of works of art in all media, and a range of styles had evolved that balanced reproductive fidelity, calligraphic virtuosity, and durability in the printing of an edition. This volume features three scholarly essays on the history of printmaking in the Netherlands and includes 116 b/w illustrations.