Titelpagina voor: Jean Jaques Courvoisier, Le Lys divine et le Samson mystique, Brussel: 1638 1638

This title page for Jean Jaques Courvoisier's book was made in Brussels in 1638 by Cornelis Galle I, using engraving. This is an intaglio printmaking technique, in which lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The image is rich with symbolism, presenting allegorical figures and biblical references. But I want to draw your attention to the method of its making. The crispness of the lines, the gradations of tone achieved through hatching, and the overall precision—all speak to the engraver’s mastery. Galle had to have absolute control to create the textures and details we see here. Engraving was often used for reproductive prints, circulating images widely, and like other printmaking methods, it allowed for the mass production and distribution of images, contributing to the growth of visual culture in the early modern period. In this way, Galle's print is tied to the social and economic conditions of its time.