engraving
portrait
baroque
old engraving style
line
history-painting
engraving
Dimensions: height 94 mm, width 63 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This print of H. Ignatius van Loyola in a flower garland was made by Joannes Galle in the 17th century. It’s an engraving, a process that involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then pressing paper against it. The act of engraving is painstaking. Think about the artist, Galle, meticulously incising those fine lines to create this image. The density of marks determines the shading and texture, a testament to the engraver's skill, which can only be acquired through years of labor. Note the sharp, precise quality, so different from a drawing or painting. The floral border is especially intricate. Each flower had to be cut with incredible attention to detail. The inscription at the bottom, "Ioan Galle exc.," tells us Galle was not only the designer, but also the printer and publisher. In those days, this kind of entrepreneurial spirit was essential to getting your work seen. Considering all the work that went into it, this print is a beautiful example of the intersection of devotion, skill, and enterprise.
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