Drukkersmerk voor de Officina Plantiniana c. 1636

This is a printer's mark for the Officina Plantiniana, made by Cornelis Galle I. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed onto paper. The printing press was a transformative technology, and engraving like this played a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and culture. But it’s easy to overlook the labor involved. Galle was a master of his tools, using them to create the composition of figures, objects and swirling ornaments. Think about the hours of painstaking work that went into this image. The mark itself, with a hand holding a compass above a printing stone, is full of symbolism. Flanked by figures representing labor and steadfastness, it embodies the values of the printing house. The inscription ‘Labore et Constantia’ — By Labor and Constancy — reinforces this message, highlighting the effort and dedication required to produce printed works. This engraving reminds us that every printed page represents the sum of many hands and skills. Looking closely at the material evidence of how things are made can challenge our usual understanding of art.