De heilige Norbertus wordt door bliksem getroffen 1622

Cornelis Galle I created this print, "De heilige Norbertus wordt door bliksem getroffen," using engraving techniques. Immediately, your eye is drawn to the stark contrast between light and shadow, a powerful visual device that enhances the drama of the scene. The composition is structured by a diagonal line of divine intervention, a lightning bolt, cutting across the scene. Galle masterfully uses line work to define form and texture. Notice how the density of lines creates areas of deep shadow, giving volume to the figures and depth to the landscape. The bolt illuminates the scene. The landscape in the background appears unaffected. The semiotic charge here is undeniable. The lightning bolt, a divine signifier, transforms the fallen figure—suggesting a moment of profound change and reorientation. It challenges established meanings, engaging with new ways of thinking about power and representation. The scene destabilizes our understanding of fate and intervention. The formal qualities of the artwork function not just aesthetically but as part of a larger discourse.