Christus in de hof van Getsemane 1586 - 1650

Cornelis Galle I created this small print of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, using an engraving technique. The method of engraving involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The fineness of the lines, and the controlled way they describe light and shadow, are really what give this print its particular character. Galle had to apply considerable force to drive the burin through the copper, demonstrating great skill and control. Prints like this were widely produced and disseminated in the early modern period, serving as a key means of circulating images and ideas. In a sense, each one is an original, yet they were also made for mass consumption. Understanding Galle’s print means appreciating the labor and skill involved in its making, and how it participates in a much wider culture of image production and exchange. This allows us to appreciate the true value and significance of this small, yet powerful work.