Maria met Kind in een kribbe c. 1576 - 1624

Francesco Villamena made this print, Maria met Kind in een kribbe, using an engraving technique. This process involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. Look closely, and you'll notice that the image is constructed from a network of fine lines, cross-hatching, and tiny dots. The density and direction of these lines create areas of light and shadow, defining the forms of Mary and the Christ Child. The sharpness of the engraved line is unique to the process, lending a crispness to the image. Prints such as this one were an important part of the era's visual culture, allowing for the wide circulation of images. In the late 16th and early 17th century, printmaking grew rapidly and became tied up with new modes of production, and systems for distributing labor. Villamena's image speaks to this history. Printmakers were skilled artisans who reproduced images after other artists’ designs, making art accessible to a broader audience, beyond the realm of unique paintings or sculptures.