The Madonna and Child on a Grassy Bench n.d.

Martin Schongauer created this tiny, intricate engraving titled 'The Madonna and Child on a Grassy Bench' sometime in the late fifteenth century. At first glance, the composition feels quite formal, an impression created by the use of sharply contrasting lines and textures. The Madonna and Child are seated in the center, framed by a detailed landscape. Notice how the artist uses line to define form. Lines create the folds of Mary's robe and the soft curves of the Baby Jesus. The background, though distant, is meticulously rendered, with carefully etched lines suggesting depth and space. The use of hatching and cross-hatching is particularly effective, and is used to create a sense of volume and shadow. The engraving can be seen as a structural interplay between the sacred and the secular. While the subject matter is religious, the attention to detail in the natural elements, such as the grassy bench and distant landscape, is striking. In the end, it's the harmony between these elements, meticulously constructed through line and texture, that elevates the artwork.