Landschap met de heilige Antonius van Padua 1590 - 1632

This print, Landschap met de heilige Antonius van Padua, was created by Pieter de Jode I in the late 16th or early 17th century, using the technique of engraving. This process involves meticulously incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then transferring the image onto paper under high pressure. The fine, precise lines, and the tonal variations achieved through hatching, all speak to the engraver’s skilled labor. Consider the sheer amount of time required to create this image. This was a reproductive medium, used to disseminate imagery widely. The making of prints like this connected artists to a broader commercial network, reflecting the growing influence of trade and distribution in the early modern period. The very act of creating an engraving underscores how art-making was deeply enmeshed with systems of labor and value. This piece is not just a devotional image, but also a testament to the changing landscape of artistic production during this time.