Arrestatie van Christus 1585 - 1586

Philips Galle created this engraving, Arrestatie van Christus, at an unknown date. The work shows the betrayal and capture of Christ, a key moment in Christian theology. The image creates meaning through its stylized depiction of violence and authority. Galle was Flemish, part of the Northern Renaissance, and this is visible in the attention to detail and realism and the naturalistic depiction of figures. The sacred story is made contemporary with the clothing of the captors, who are dressed as 16th-century soldiers. Galle was a printmaker who worked for a large publishing house in Antwerp and the print has inscriptions in Latin, meaning it was made for an educated, international audience. To understand the social role of prints in disseminating religious and political ideas, scholars consult archives of print publishers, collectors, and libraries. Art is always contingent on these social and institutional contexts.