Judas verraadt Christus en krijgt dertig zilverlingen 1580 - 1600

This tiny engraving, "Judas Betrays Christ and Receives Thirty Pieces of Silver," was made by Johann Sadeler I, around the year 1600 in the Netherlands. Small prints like these were made for circulation, often ending up in books. The artist would have been highly attuned to the market and current events. This image depicts a biblical scene: Judas shaking hands with a man and accepting money for his betrayal of Christ. Sadeler’s choice to depict Judas in contemporary dress, and the architectural setting, makes the ancient story seem much more immediate. Consider the politics of imagery at this time. The history of Christianity was fraught, and the Protestant Reformation had spread throughout Europe in the 16th century. Understanding the social conditions in which this print was made is the role of the historian. To understand it better, you might research Dutch fashion, politics, and religious culture.