St. James the Less 1470 - 1491

Editor: Here we have Martin Schongauer's "St. James the Less," an engraving from around 1470 to 1491. It feels very somber and linear. I'm immediately drawn to all the detailed lines forming the cloak. What do you make of the visual effect created by those lines? Curator: Oh, it’s utterly captivating, isn’t it? To me, those intricate lines aren't just descriptive, they are deeply expressive. They evoke the very fabric of devotion, the way faith wraps around you, clinging with every crease and fold, sheltering from the storm. I always find it amusing that engravings are described as lines, when actually they are all about creating evocative tonal effects from nothing other than strategic ink distribution. Does the figure remind you of anyone, maybe someone you know? Editor: He sort of reminds me of a slightly world-weary philosophy professor, but dressed in a robe! How interesting that you interpret those lines as protective. I was mostly focused on their almost obsessive detail. Curator: Perhaps it's both, protection and obsession are, after all, two sides of the same devotional coin. Schongauer’s virtuosity really shines here. Consider the historical backdrop – printing was still in its infancy and look at this engraving so exquisitely rendered, such commitment etched, quite literally, into metal. Now, consider, what stories do you think St James holds in the depth of those knowing, ancient eyes? Editor: That's amazing to think about in terms of early printmaking, it adds so much context. The figure does seem really aware and intelligent. Curator: Exactly. And to consider that this work would have made devotionals available to a broader audience is quite profound. Thank you, that has inspired a new thought! Editor: Thanks, I've never really considered prints to have so much expressiveness!