Saints James Major, Bartholomew(?) and Thomas, from the series The Apostles 1577

Anthonie Blocklandt made this print of Saints James Major, Bartholomew, and Thomas using the intaglio process. Intaglio refers to printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, and this is typically a metal plate. Look closely, and you'll see a network of fine lines, all of which had to be manually engraved into the metal. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the excess is wiped away, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The result has a crisp, linear quality, ideally suited to Blocklandt's classically inspired scene. The three saints are arranged in a composition of flowing robes, facial hair, and resolute gazes. Note the careful attention to light and shadow, achieved entirely by the density and direction of the engraved lines. This kind of printmaking demanded skilled labor, patience, and precision, raising it beyond mere reproduction. Prints like this allowed for the wider circulation of images and ideas, blurring the lines between craft, art, and commerce.