Apostel Filippus met kruis 1517 - 1577

This image of the Apostle Phillip with a cross was made by an anonymous artist. It’s a print, created by incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then pressing paper against it. The real subject of this image is labor. See how every shape is built from tiny parallel lines? This reveals the amount of time taken to create it. The artist has used the cross-hatching technique to create areas of shadow, thereby modeling the figure of Phillip and his drapery. The final image gives an illusion of three-dimensionality. Prints like this were part of a rapidly expanding visual culture. As dissemination increased, the social status of image-makers was upgraded, allowing for the rise of celebrated artists. Understanding the laborious, linear processes involved in printmaking helps us appreciate its historical importance.