Madonna of Saint Jerome 1586

Editor: Here we have Cornelis Cort's "Madonna of Saint Jerome." The hatching and cross-hatching create so much depth and volume, but there’s also a softness to the figures. What pulls you in when you look at this print? Curator: Oh, it's a tender vision, isn't it? I find myself drawn to the contrast between Saint Jerome, so strong and almost rugged, and the delicate Madonna and Child. Cort’s printmaking makes me think of whispers etched in time. Doesn't it make you wonder about the stories these figures hold? Editor: Definitely! It’s like a captured moment of quiet reflection. Thanks for that perspective. Curator: My pleasure. Now, I wonder, what story do *you* think it tells?