Apostel Matteüs 1570 - 1600

This is Apostle Matthew, an engraving made around 1600 by Johann Sadeler I. The image is created through a skillful manipulation of metal, where lines are incised to hold ink and create the design. The fine lines and cross-hatching give the print depth, and allow for subtle gradations of tone. Note the inscription at the bottom, and the way in which the lettering is also achieved through this painstaking process. But the real telling detail here is in the way Matthew holds the square. This tool is associated with building and construction - trades involving hard labor. By including it, Sadeler is emphasizing the active role Matthew played in constructing the foundations of the church. In commissioning and collecting prints such as this, the wealthy could participate in a culture of connoisseurship, while simultaneously reinforcing social hierarchies. So, when we consider this image, we should appreciate not only Sadeler’s skill, but also the complex economic and social context in which he was working.