Judaskus 1573

Philips Galle made this small print, Judaskus, using the technique of engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a metal plate, in this case probably copper. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into the surface, creating the image in reverse. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Finally, the printmaker presses paper against the plate, transferring the image. Consider the labor involved in this detailed work, the hours of skilled craftsmanship required to create such detail. The dense network of fine lines gives the print its tonal depth and texture. Galle was a prolific printmaker, and prints like this one were often made in multiples, allowing for wider distribution of images and ideas. The print medium itself, born of craft and technology, challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and the crafts, and it serves as a reminder that all art is the product of skillful making.