Luther onthult het bedrog van de katholieke geestelijkheid 1604

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this engraving, "Luther onthult het bedrog van de katholieke geestelijkheid", or "Luther reveals the deception of the Catholic clergy," sometime in the late 16th century. It’s a potent example of how printmaking could be used to spread political messages far and wide. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines incised into the metal plate, probably copper, with a tool called a burin. This required considerable skill, as the image is built up through precise, controlled cuts. The density of these lines creates areas of shadow and depth. But it’s the image itself that really speaks. The act of revealing is central—Luther pulls back the curtain to expose the true, corrupted nature of the Catholic clergy. Printmaking, in its capacity to disseminate ideas, played a crucial role in the Reformation, challenging established hierarchies and enabling new ways of thinking. This artwork reminds us that materials and making are never neutral; they are always embedded in social and cultural contexts.