Koning Josia viert Pesach 1567 - 1579

This print, depicting King Josiah celebrating Passover, was made by Philips Galle, a Flemish artist who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The process is engraving, which involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then wiping it clean so the ink remains only in the incised lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Engraving was a highly skilled, labor-intensive process. The quality of the print depended on the engraver's technical skill and artistic interpretation. Here, the artist demonstrates a mastery of line work, creating depth and detail. The medium allowed for mass production and distribution of images, which played a significant role in disseminating knowledge, religious beliefs, and political ideas. Prints like this one occupy an interesting place between art and craft. While considered fine art today, they were also functional objects, serving as visual aids for religious instruction. Appreciating the skill and labor involved reminds us that categories like “art” and “craft” are not fixed, but rather reflect changing social and economic values.