Maria met Kind 1595 - 1692

This print, titled "Maria met Kind," was made anonymously using etching, a process involving a metal plate coated with wax. The artist would have scratched an image into the wax, then bathed the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. Ink is then applied, filling the etched lines, and the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. The character of the etching process is evident in the image’s fine lines and subtle shading, which define the Virgin Mary and Child. The delicate, almost ephemeral quality of the print gives the piece a dreamlike atmosphere. Prints like these facilitated the wide distribution of images, democratizing access to art. While the artist remains unknown, their skill in etching is clear, demonstrating a mastery of a technique that bridged the gap between craft and fine art. Ultimately, it's a testament to the power of reproducible media in spreading cultural and religious ideas.