Maagd Maria 1586 - 1595

This image of the Virgin Mary was created by Julius Goltzius, sometime around 1500, using the intaglio process of engraving. A master printmaker, Goltzius has rendered the image through a series of precise cuts into a copper plate. The incised lines hold ink, transferring the image to paper when pressed. The variations in line thickness and density create a sense of light and shadow, defining the folds of Mary’s garments and the soft contours of her face. Engraving demands immense skill and patience; each line is a deliberate mark, requiring focused labor. The controlled, methodical nature of the engraving process lends itself well to the depiction of serene subjects like the Virgin Mary, where the very act of making mirrors the virtues of piety and contemplation that she embodies. In appreciating this print, we acknowledge the labor and skill invested in its creation, bridging the gap between the spiritual and the material.