Apostel Paulus met zwaard staand in nis 1517 - 1577

This Apostle Paul with sword, standing in niche, was made by an anonymous artist, using an engraving technique. To create this image, the artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, likely copper. The incised lines hold ink, and when pressed onto paper, they create the image we see here. This process demands meticulous skill and control. Notice how the density and direction of the lines create a sense of form and shadow, bringing the figure of Paul to life. The very act of engraving, with its reliance on skilled labor and mechanical reproduction, reflects the changing dynamics of art production in the early modern period. While seemingly simple, this print embodies a complex interplay between craft, technology, and the dissemination of images within a growing market economy. Paying attention to materials and making allows us to appreciate not only the image itself, but also the social and economic context in which it was created.