Saint Sebastian 1440 - 1460

This printed image of Saint Sebastian was likely made in Germany, using woodcut and then hand-colored. The processes involved are quite fascinating. First, the design would be drawn, and then a craftsperson would laboriously carve away the wood around the lines, leaving a raised surface. This block was then inked and pressed onto paper, in much the same way Gutenberg printed his bibles. The resulting image has a graphic quality, with bold lines and flat areas of color. You can almost feel the texture of the wood in the print. Look at how the artist has used line to define form, and the way the colors have been applied by hand, adding depth. The production of prints like this one was closely tied to the rise of capitalism, making images available to a wider audience than ever before. It's a reminder that even seemingly simple objects can have complex social and economic histories embedded in their making.