Maria met Kind

François Tortebat created this print, Maria met Kind, in 1664 using engraving. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking method where the design is cut into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using a tool called a burin. The burin allows the artist to create precise lines of varying width by controlling the angle and pressure applied. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the incised lines. The surface is wiped clean, and the print is produced by pressing paper against the plate with a printing press. This technique enabled Tortebat to achieve fine details and tonal variations, crucial for rendering the delicate features of Mary and the child. The controlled lines of engraving are very different from the freer marks achievable in a drawing or painting, and this difference is integral to the print’s aesthetic. In appreciating the material, process, and period of this artwork, we understand how traditional distinctions of craft and art are challenged.