The Mass of Saint Gregory c. 1480 - 1485

Editor: So this is Israhel van Meckenem the younger's "The Mass of Saint Gregory," an engraving. It feels incredibly detailed, but also quite...stark. What draws your eye when you look at this print? Curator: Well, the sheer density of imagery is captivating. Imagine the artist, hunched over a plate, meticulously carving each line! Notice how the scene unfolds almost like a stage play, but with a twist of the surreal. What do you make of the figure of Christ hovering above the altar? Editor: It's...unexpected! Almost like a vision. Curator: Exactly! Van Meckenem masterfully blends the earthly with the divine. It’s like a window into a very particular, late medieval, mind. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what else lies hidden in plain sight? Editor: It does. I definitely have a better understanding now.