Engel met de beurs van Judas en het zwaard van Petrus c. 1581 - 1645

This print, made by Karel van Mallery around the early 17th century, is rendered with the technique of engraving. Notice the crisp lines and the contrasting tones, achieved through the careful manipulation of metal. Engraving is an indirect process, requiring skill and precision to transfer an image onto a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The technique involves using a tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate, allowing for highly detailed and controlled imagery. The resulting print bears the marks of this labor-intensive process, each line a testament to the engraver's hand. In this artwork, the angel is seen holding the purse of Judas and the sword of Peter, symbols of betrayal and violence, presented through the reproducible medium of print. Such a work would have made these concepts more accessible, and more widely available than a unique painting. This brings us closer to the cultural context of the era and the dissemination of religious ideas, highlighting the role of printmaking in shaping public consciousness.