Reproductie van een prent van de maagd Maria door Martin Schongauer before 1872

This is a reproduction of a print of the Virgin Mary by Martin Schongauer, recreated by Simonau & Toovey. It’s a work made using printmaking techniques, a world in which the hand of the artist gives way to more mechanical processes. The original print would have been made by painstakingly engraving lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The copy may have been made using a similar technique, or perhaps a more photographic one. Either way, the process emphasizes the inherent qualities of line and tone. The lines vary in thickness and density to create areas of light and shadow, giving form to the Virgin Mary's figure and drapery. What's fascinating here is to think about the labor involved in the production process and to reflect on the social and cultural significance of reproducing images. Printmaking democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the wealthy elite. The reproduction of religious icons like the Virgin Mary speaks to the demand for such imagery and its role in shaping religious beliefs and practices.