Cornelius knielt voor Petrus 1582

This engraving, "Cornelius kneelt voor Petrus," was made by Philips Galle, sometime between 1537 and 1612. It’s made using a method of incising lines into a metal plate, which are then filled with ink and printed onto paper. The stark black and white of the print shows a clear contrast in tone and texture, which brings this biblical scene to life. Galle was a master of printmaking, skillfully using the engraving technique to capture detail, depth, and emotion. His technique would involve a division of labor. Galle was a prolific designer and publisher, who made some prints himself, and had others made by specialist artisans. This print brings into focus the labor and skill involved in the production of images during this period, and the hierarchies implied by the relationship between designers, craftsmen, and publishers in the reproduction of images. The relationship between design and craft asks us to broaden traditional art history, challenging the perceived gap between art and craft.