Turkse geestelijke van de orde der Giomailers 1555 - 1568

This engraving, ‘Turkse geestelijke van de orde der Giomailers’, was made by Léon Davent in the mid-16th century. He used a technique of carving lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then pressing paper onto it to transfer the image. The image is a representation of a Turkish cleric with devilish features, reading. Its appearance relies on the controlled application of pressure and the quality of the lines etched into the plate. We can think about the labor involved in producing this image. The engraver would have needed a steady hand and significant training to create the precise details. The amount of time taken to create each print adds value to the image, turning a base metal into a valuable art object. Prints like this one were often made in multiples, making art more accessible. The act of printing thus democratizes images, taking them out of the realm of unique, handmade artworks. These kinds of images helped to shape and spread ideas across Europe and were bound to be controversial. Ultimately, understanding the material and the process of production allows us to appreciate the cultural role of this image.