1572
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Diligent Worker Aspiring to the Rightousness of the Lord is a 1572 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene with four robed figures standing on a rocky shore. One holds a crown, another a staff, and a third leans on a plow. Below them, a tiny village sits by water, with people working in fields. The figures are surrounded by swirling clouds and dramatic waves, while Latin words wrap around the bottom. The figures likely stand for ideas like faith, hope, and hard work. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, making the scene feel detailed. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints.
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
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