Heilige Joris en de draak 1550 - 1600

Giuseppe Scolari made this print of Saint George and the Dragon sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. He used a technique called chiaroscuro woodcut, where the image is built up from multiple blocks, each inked with a different tone. Scolari was a relatively obscure printmaker, yet this work shows a sophisticated understanding of the process. Look closely, and you’ll see how he used the wood grain to suggest movement and texture, from the billowing clouds to the scales of the dragon. The result is a dramatic scene, full of energy. Although chiaroscuro woodcuts could be quite elaborate, they were also relatively cheap to produce. This made them a popular way to disseminate images widely, and Scolari’s print would have been accessible to a broad audience. So, while it may not be a unique painting or sculpture, this print gives us a fascinating glimpse into the visual culture of its time. It shows how the creative use of materials and processes can bring even mass-produced images to life.