Virgin Mary suckling the Christ Child 1512

Albrecht Dürer created this drawing, Virgin Mary suckling the Christ Child, using pen and ink. The stark contrast of light and shadow gives the piece a tangible quality, despite being on paper. Dürer's mastery lies in his cross-hatching technique, building up layers of fine lines to create depth and volume. Look closely, and you'll see how each stroke contributes to the overall form, defining the soft curves of Mary's face and the plumpness of the Christ Child's body. The stark contrast in the penwork against the white of the paper is a direct translation of the printing process. This was made during a period when printmaking was becoming increasingly important. It democratized the art world. Dürer was one of the first artists to understand and exploit this new medium. By focusing on line and form, he created images that could be easily reproduced and distributed, and it became an important part of his commercial enterprise. This drawing reminds us that even the most revered religious subjects can be approached with an eye for craft, and with an understanding of the social and economic forces at play.