Drie apostelen Petrus, Andreas en Johannes 1568

This print of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and John was made by Pieter van der Heyden around 1563, using the technique of engraving. This was a highly skilled process, requiring the artist to use a tool called a burin to incise lines directly into a metal plate. Look closely, and you can see how the density of these lines creates areas of shadow and light, giving the image its texture and form. Engraving was a labor-intensive process, requiring a great deal of time and expertise. But it also allowed for the creation of multiple copies, making images like this one widely accessible at a time before mass media. The print is not just an artwork, but also a product of its time, reflecting the growth of capitalism and the rise of a new class of urban consumers. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple images can have complex social and economic meanings embedded within them.