De heilige Norbertus bemiddelt in een ruzie 1622

Cornelis Galle I created this print, "De heilige Norbertus bemiddelt in een ruzie," sometime before his death in 1650. Notice how Galle uses the stark contrast of dark lines against a light background to draw our eyes to the central figures of Norbertus and the quarreling men. The composition is structured around a clear division, yet balance, between the figures on either side of the reliquary. This division represents the conflict, but it's mediated by the central placement of Saint Norbertus and the religious artifact. Galle employs a dense arrangement of figures to create a sense of tension and complexity, typical of the Baroque period. This print isn't merely a depiction; it's a visual argument about the power of religious figures to bring resolution. The formal elements—the lines, the composition, the expressions of the figures—all work together to communicate a message of mediation and the potential for peace. In this way, the artwork reflects broader cultural values about conflict resolution in the 17th century.