De Dood en de kardinaal 1541

Heinrich Aldegrever made this small engraving, "Death and the Cardinal," using a technique that demanded meticulous skill. An engraver carefully carves lines into a metal plate, inking the recesses to transfer the image onto paper. Here, the stark contrast between light and shadow, achieved by the density and direction of the engraved lines, creates a dramatic scene. We see the Cardinal, weighted down by his finery, confronted by death, who holds an hourglass that marks the end of the Cardinal’s time. Engraving like this was a key technology in the distribution of ideas during the Reformation. Aldegrever used his skill to draw attention to the corruption of the clergy. The precise detail and the artistry of the print only serve to heighten the impact of its social critique, a potent combination of craft and commentary.