Madonna met kind 1618 - 1655

Cornelis Schut made this small print, Madonna and Child, using etching, a printmaking technique which democratized image production. Here, a metal plate is coated with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ‘ground’, through which the artist scratches an image. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are bitten, creating grooves. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. When pressed against paper, the image is transferred. The dense, hatched lines create a sense of depth and texture. Note how the controlled yet expressive marks delineate the folds of Mary’s robe, the soft skin of the Christ Child, and the celestial glow radiating from the baby. The lines are evidence of the artist’s labor. Printmaking allowed artists like Schut to reproduce their works in multiples, expanding their reach beyond wealthy patrons. The relatively low cost of prints made art accessible to a wider audience, contributing to the rise of a more diverse art market. By understanding the materials and processes behind this work, we appreciate its role in the broader social and economic context of its time.