The Miraculous Draught of Fishes 1540 - 1550

Niccolò Vicentino made this print, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, around 1515-1550 using a woodblock. Woodcuts involve carving an image into the surface of a woodblock, and then applying ink to the remaining raised surface. Here, Vicentino printed the block in two different tones. This method simulates the appearance of a chiaroscuro drawing, which is an approach that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional forms. Look closely, and you can see how the figures emerge from the surface. This effect is heightened by the texture of the paper. The image depicts a passage from the Gospel of Luke, where Christ instructs the fishermen to cast their nets, resulting in an abundant catch. What might otherwise be considered a divine occurrence becomes a study in labor; the fishermen strain and struggle, their muscles bulging as they haul in the miraculous draught. The print is a testament to the amount of work involved in emulating a drawing, reminding us that all images are made by human hands.