De voorstelling van Het Mariacransken: David met het hoofd van Goliath, 1577 1577 - 1578

This is a 1577 print by Antoni van Leest, illustrating David with the head of Goliath. The image is built from many thin lines, all precisely cut into a block of wood, probably boxwood for its tight grain. The process of woodcutting is laborious. The artist would have used specialized tools, like knives and gouges, to carve away the areas that would remain white on the page. The remaining raised lines would then be inked and pressed onto paper. Notice the incredible level of detail, which speaks to Van Leest’s skill and patience, as well as the cultural value placed on printed images at this time. The texture of the wood itself is nearly invisible, but the labor involved is palpable. Each line represents a deliberate act of removal, a testament to the artist's time and effort. The social context here is the rise of printmaking, enabling the wide distribution of biblical scenes and other narratives, therefore contributing to the cultural and intellectual landscape of the 16th century. The artwork invites us to consider the rich histories and social implications embedded within the making.