Apostelen dopen nieuwe gelovigen in Jeruzalem before 1646

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut print, titled 'Apostelen dopen nieuwe gelovigen in Jeruzalem', sometime before his death in 1658. The image is made with a relief printing process, where the artist carves away the wood around the lines to be printed, leaving a raised design. Look closely, and you can see how the texture of the wood itself influences the final image. The lines are crisp, but also have a slightly rough quality, reflecting the grain of the block. Each mark required careful labor, and the overall design shows a mastery of graphic communication. Prints like this played a vital role in disseminating information, and visual culture, throughout Europe. They were relatively inexpensive to produce, allowing for mass distribution of religious and secular imagery. The act of making these prints also contributed to a growing culture of craftsmanship, and the emergence of a market for affordable art. By understanding the materials, and processes involved in its creation, we can appreciate this woodcut not just as a religious scene, but also as a testament to the skilled labor, and social context of its time.