Koning David ziet de engel des doods c. 1612 - 1616

Theodoor Galle made this engraving of ‘King David Sees the Angel of Death’ sometime between 1571 and 1633. Galle was a master of printmaking, a process that requires immense skill and patience. The image begins as a smooth copper plate. The artist then uses a tool called a burin to manually carve lines into the metal. These lines hold ink, and when the plate is pressed onto paper, the image is transferred. Look closely, and you'll notice the fineness of Galle’s lines. He uses hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variation, giving the scene depth and drama. But beyond technique, consider the social context. Printmaking in Galle’s time was a key technology, allowing images and ideas to circulate widely. It democratized art, making it accessible to a broader audience than painted works. While Galle was highly skilled, his labor was also part of a larger system of production and consumption, connecting artistic skill to the wider world.