Christus in de storm op het Meer van Galilea 1760

Charles Exshaw made this print of "Christus in de storm op het Meer van Galilea" – Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee – in the 1700s. Prints like this one, often based on paintings, were produced using engraving, a labor-intensive method where an image is incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The sharp lines and high contrast of the print allow Exshaw to convey the drama of the biblical scene, as the disciples struggle against the raging storm while Christ remains calm. The skilled labor and precise control over the tools speak to the engraver's mastery, while the choice of a biblical subject reflects the social context of the time. Looking closely, we can appreciate the technical skill required to create such a detailed image, and also how prints like these made art accessible to a wider audience, beyond those who could afford paintings. Recognizing the immense labor and skill involved invites us to reconsider the value we place on different forms of creative production.