Mercante Inglese 1598

Christoph Krieger's "Mercante Inglese" is a woodcut, a relatively accessible process for image-making that democratized visual culture during its time. The dense lines define the figure of the English merchant and evoke the textures of his garments, from the ruff around his neck to the folds of his cloak and breeches. Woodcut is a relief printing technique, where the artist carves away the negative space, leaving the lines that will hold the ink. The image is then transferred to paper through pressure, revealing the composition. The materiality of wood, with its inherent grain, influences the character of the lines, contributing to the image's somewhat crude aesthetic. This aesthetic reflects not only the relative ease of production of woodcuts, but also their function. They were used widely for popular imagery, often associated with printed books, pamphlets, and other ephemeral material that were consumed by a wide audience. Understanding the printmaking process and its social context allows us to appreciate the broader cultural significance of this image. The work challenges our traditional assumptions about the hierarchy between fine art and craft.