Apostel Jakobus de Mindere before 1646

This engraving of Saint James the Less was made by Christoffel van Sichem II in the Netherlands, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Sichem was a prolific printmaker, and often made single-leaf prints of religious subjects like this one. The image is a fairly standard depiction of the saint, complete with halo and chalice. But it's important to remember that prints like this didn't exist in a vacuum. They were often commissioned by religious orders for distribution to their members, and would have been used as devotional aids. The print includes religious text that places the figure in historical and biblical context, and helps to reinforce his status as a revered religious figure. These prints offer us a window into the religious life of the Dutch Republic during the 17th century. By looking at who commissioned them, who produced them, and how they were used, we can begin to understand the role that art played in shaping religious belief and practice. We can research who Sichem's patrons were and how the prints were disseminated using period documents and institutional records.