The Diligent Worker Aspiring to the Righteousness of the Lord, from The Reward of Labour and Diligence, plate 3 1572

Curator: Philips Galle’s engraving from 1572, titled “The Diligent Worker Aspiring to the Righteousness of the Lord,” presents us with a complex allegory rendered with meticulous detail. The work, part of the series *The Reward of Labour and Diligence*, resides now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is how crowded and chaotic the scene feels, despite the precision of the lines. There’s this real tension between the idealised figures and the implied labor. Curator: Exactly. Galle, situated within a period marked by social and religious upheaval, uses the visual language of the Baroque to champion the virtues of hard work within a Christian framework. Editor: We see two central figures—Labor and Fidelity. Their arduous work literally lifts towards representations of Faith, Hope, and Charity above them. The laborers are framed by a cavernous arch. What do we know about this period’s social dynamics informing Galle's vision? Curator: Consider the socio-economic context. Europe, experiencing a rise in merchant capitalism, also grappled with persistent poverty. Galle's work subtly endorses diligence as the means to divine favour, effectively reinforcing existing hierarchies and moral codes surrounding work. The composition, with the toiling figures at the base literally supporting the ethereal ideals, speaks volumes. Editor: It's fascinating how this piece functions as both a devotional image and a work of social commentary. The sun shining down to inspire the male worker also has ships. A global trading port and symbol of wealth generation sits alongside poverty. And look closer, two other men seem to stand idle on a beach. What of this underclass, the jobless? Curator: That perspective pushes the engraving beyond mere religious doctrine. You’re right; the horizon contains symbols that complicate that interpretation. What do you see that helps expand our thoughts? Editor: Seeing figures seemingly idle while "Labor" toils shows a society not necessarily inclusive. Maybe Philips is revealing something more honest with his rendering here than originally assumed. It’s the start of critical questioning on labor benefit and inequality of wealth that’s thought-provoking. Curator: Certainly, this engraving demonstrates art's role as an instrument of not just social and cultural norms but also potentially as a conduit for exposing tensions present within those norms. The dense detail rewards close inspection. Editor: Looking closer can yield surprisingly diverse social insight into an historic engraving like this, I think. And for Galle, situating himself within a moralising market for this period would have afforded greater prospects of commissions I wonder?