Paus Gregorius XI keert terug naar Italië 1603

This print, made by Cornelis Galle I, shows Pope Gregory the Eleventh returning to Italy. The printmaking process involves a painstaking transfer of an image onto a metal plate, likely copper in this case. The artist uses tools to create lines and textures, which hold ink and transfer it to paper under pressure. Engraving like this demands skill, patience and precision. The incised lines create a graphic language, illustrating Pope Gregory's return as a political and religious event. The technique's reliance on skilled labor is worth noting, as printmaking in this era provided a means for artists to disseminate information, but the process of mass production also changed the nature of art, and its economic value. Looking closely at the print reminds us that art isn't just about the final image, it is about the labor and social context that brings it into being. Recognizing this invites us to challenge distinctions between art and craft.