Artwork description:

To inspire this print is psychostasia, that is, the ceremony of the ancient Egyptian religion to which, according to the Book of the Dead in chapter 125, the deceased was subjected before he could access the afterlife. More usually, psychostasis is known as "weighing the heart", or "weighing the soul". According to the Book of the Dead, the deceased is brought from Anubis to the court of Osiris, in the presence of 42 judges, one for each Egyptian province for the "weighing of the heart". His heart is in fact placed on a plate on the scales, while on the other a feather is placed, personification of Maat, goddess of justice. The deceased must confess his actions. If the heart, after this act, is heavier than the feather, the monstrous goddess Ammit will devour it; otherwise the soul will have access to the afterlife. In preparation for this judgment after death, the deceased was accompanied by an amulet, a "heart" beetle, on which the protection formula was written:
 
"O heart of my mother, or heart of my essence, do not testify against me, do not deny me to the court. Do not contradict me before the judges. Do not tilt the board on my side in the presence of the scales keeper. You are mine Ka, you dwell in my body, you are conjoined to it and you make my limbs strong. Approach heaven, lead me and yourself there. Do not make my name disgusting before the Divine Lords. Be fair to us, make yourself heard when they come. weigh the words. Do not utter lies against me before the great God. You will certainly be lifted up to life.

This print is handcrafted from an engraved matrix WITHOUT using the ink through a roller and a ball burin (and a lot of patience and delicacy).

°°° Image size: 13x13cm
°°° Paper size: 25x20 cm
°°° Paper: Hahnemule, 150g
°°° Signed: on the front - Original linoblock print (not a reproduction), every print is numered
°°° Printed by hand
°°° Frame: Not included.
°°° Technique: linogravure, etching, embossing
°°° Artist: Marisa Liuzzi

Materials used:

paper Hahnemule, 150g

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