Christuskind zaagt een boomstam 1617

This print, made by Christoffel van Sichem the Younger, probably in the early 17th century, uses woodcut, a relief printing process, to show the infant Christ sawing a log. Think about how this print was made. The artist would have used knives and gouges to carve away the block of wood, leaving only the lines that would appear in the final image. The very act of creating such an image is labor-intensive. This is conceptually important, because here we see Christ himself engaged in manual work, along with his extended family who are also occupied with their own activities. Notice the inscription below the image, which translates to, "He who desires, must be humbled, and also accustomed to work. For without pain and trouble of heart nothing is attained." The choice of woodcut as a medium is therefore no accident. The artist underscores the dignity of labor, challenging any hard line between physical work and spiritual attainment.