Saint Sebaldus 

This image of Saint Sebaldus was made in 1518 by Hans Springinklee, using the technique of woodcut. This is a relief printing process, where the artist carves an image into the surface of a wooden block, removing the areas that are not meant to be printed. Look closely and you'll notice the material's influence: the lines are crisp and bold, and the textures are created by varying the width and spacing of the cuts. Woodcut is a relatively accessible medium; it doesn't require specialized equipment or training compared to other printmaking methods like engraving. This accessibility meant that woodcuts were often used for popular imagery, like religious icons, playing cards, and book illustrations. The multiple lines speak to labor, and the ability to produce images and widely distribute these among the working classes. Ultimately, it's important to understand the social and economic context in which it was made, and the role of printmaking in disseminating ideas and images in early modern Europe, to fully understand the meaning and significance of the artwork.