Maria met Christus en Jozef tijdens vlucht naar Egypte 1510 - 1515

Marcantonio Raimondi made this engraving, Maria met Christus en Jozef tijdens vlucht naar Egypte, around 1510 in Italy. Here, we see the Holy Family on their journey to Egypt, escaping the Massacre of the Innocents ordered by King Herod. Raimondi was instrumental in popularizing the reproductive print, which democratized access to art. Before this innovation, most people would never see artworks unless they were wealthy enough to commission them. This engraving, and others like it, allowed the wider population to engage with religious and artistic ideas, influencing popular piety and taste. Raimondi was not only an artist, but also an entrepreneur who understood how to navigate the emerging print market. His success was due to the social and technological conditions of the time, including the rise of a merchant class and advancements in printing techniques. To understand Raimondi's work, we need to consider the history of printmaking, the social role of religious imagery, and the dynamics of the art market in the Renaissance.