Sculptura in Aes, The Workshop of an Engraver
Jan van der Straet, called Johannes Stradanus
1591
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Jan van der Straet, called Johannes Stradanus
1591
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Sculptura in Aes, The Workshop of an Engraver is a 1591 by Jan van der Straet, called Johannes Stradanus, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a busy printmaking workshop: men carving metal plates, inking them, and cranking a giant press. This isn’t just a picture—it’s a step-by-step guide. The artist shows every stage of making an engraving, from cutting the plate to hanging the finished prints. It’s like a 1500s instruction manual, giving us a rare look at how prints were made. If you like this, check out *chiaroscuro*—a technique that uses strong light and shadow to make images pop.
