Christus als Salvator Mundi 1586 - 1633

Cornelis Galle I produced this engraving of Christ as Salvator Mundi, Savior of the World, at some point during his career in Antwerp. It synthesizes a number of long-standing artistic and religious ideas. Galle was part of a large and influential family of printmakers in Antwerp, a city that remained Catholic after the northern Netherlands broke away to become the Protestant Dutch Republic. Galle’s image reflects the Catholic Church’s emphasis on the sacraments, which are symbolized in Christ’s gesture of blessing and the orb in his left hand, topped with a cross. As an art historian, I am interested in Galle’s choice to produce prints rather than paintings or sculptures. Printmaking was a more democratic medium, allowing for the wider dissemination of religious imagery in a time of intense religious conflict. By studying the history of printmaking, we can better understand the social and political role of images in early modern Europe.