Veil of St Veronica (sudrarium) 19-19

This small, unsigned print on display here at the Met depicts the Veil of Saint Veronica and was likely made in Europe. This image of Christ’s face miraculously imprinted on a cloth has a long and complex history, intertwined with questions of authenticity and the power of images. Consider the context in which this print was created, a society deeply shaped by religious belief and the Catholic Church’s teachings. Images like these weren't just aesthetic objects; they were seen as powerful tools for devotion, capable of connecting viewers to the divine. The imagery also tells us about the mechanics of its creation. Woodcut, as a printing technique, democratized images by enabling mass production. To truly understand this work, we would need to dig deeper into the visual culture of its time, looking at the other prints and devotional objects that circulated alongside it. By understanding the socio-religious context, we can better appreciate the meaning and significance it held for its original audience.