Koorgestoelte in de Grote of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk te Dordrecht before 1881

This image shows choir stalls in the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht, rendered through 16th-century printmaking techniques. The original choir stalls, made from carved oak, would have been monumental. Consider the labor involved in felling the trees, curing the wood, and then the slow, careful work of carving. These processes would have relied on skilled traditions passed down through generations. The original makers would have been specialized artisans, employed to create settings for religious worship. This image brings those stalls down to a manageable scale, allowing for a wider distribution of the sacred image. The printmaking, through a combination of technical mastery and industrial production, makes the original's craftsmanship accessible to many, even if it loses some of its original presence. Thinking about materials, making, and context helps us understand the complex interplay between art, craft, labor, and religious practice.