Saint John the Baptist and Saint Onuphrius 1503 - 1504

Albrecht Durer created this print of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Onuphrius using the technique of engraving. The process involved incising lines into a copper plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against the surface to transfer the image. Look closely, and you’ll see how the network of lines articulates form and shadow. Durer was a master of this painstaking method, which allowed for incredible detail. But it was also slow and demanding, requiring specialized tools and tremendous skill. Engraving had a unique social context. It was part of a broader print culture that democratized images, making them available to a wider audience than unique paintings or sculptures ever could. These prints could circulate among the populace, providing people with moralizing narratives. By appreciating the labor and skill involved in its production, we can see this print not just as a religious image, but also as an example of early modern industry, with a wide reach across society.