Geloof after 1559

Philips Galle created this engraving, "Geloof," around the late 16th century. The composition is dominated by a central, towering cross, around which the scene unfolds. Galle uses a dense, linear style, creating a rich texture that guides our eyes through the crowded interior of what appears to be a church. The arrangement directs our focus from the lower foreground—strewn with objects—up to the pulpit, and then to the cross itself. This creates a visual hierarchy suggesting the importance of religious doctrine and faith. The precise lines and detailed rendering lend a sense of order. However, the overall impact hints at the complexities and the weight of religious belief in society. Galle's "Geloof" underscores how art serves as a carrier of cultural values, continually reinterpreted across time. It’s a formal embodiment of structure and meaning.