The Virgin with the Blessing Child in a Landscape 1500 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer created this small, intricate print, The Virgin with the Blessing Child in a Landscape, using the exacting technique of metal engraving. The image is built from a dense accumulation of tiny etched lines, dug into the surface of the metal plate. Think of the physical effort needed to create this composition, through the precise, repetitive action of the engraver’s hand. The varying density of the lines creates a range of tones, defining the forms of the Virgin and Child, and the surrounding landscape. This mode of production makes prints inherently reproducible; they were among the first forms of media available for mass consumption. So, while this image depicts a sacred subject, it also speaks to a rapidly changing world, where devotion could be delivered to your doorstep. Altdorfer’s technical virtuosity, combined with the print’s availability, underscores the fascinating intersection of craft, commerce, and religious expression in the 16th century.