Maria met Kind op maansikkel 1589

Agostino Carracci created this print of the Virgin and Child in the late 16th century using an engraving technique. Look closely, and you'll see how the image is constructed from thousands of tiny lines, each one carefully etched into a copper plate. This was achieved by using a tool called a burin to remove slivers of metal, creating grooves that would hold ink. The plate would then be inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper. The incised lines create the image. The quality of the line is everything in an engraving like this. Carracci’s skill with the burin allowed him to render subtle gradations of tone and texture. The dense, cross-hatched shadows give the figures depth and volume, while the delicate lines suggest the softness of the Virgin’s skin and the folds of her drapery. Prints like this one were luxury items, requiring considerable skill and labor to produce, but they also enabled the wider dissemination of images. So, while this print is undoubtedly a work of art, it is also a testament to the power of reproductive technologies to shape religious belief and artistic taste.