Saint Mary of Egypt, Illustration from Jacobus de Voragine, Heiligenlegenden. Cologne, Ludwig von Renchen, 1485 c. 15th century

Curator: This is an illustration from Jacobus de Voragine's "Heiligenlegenden," printed in Cologne around 1485. It depicts Saint Mary of Egypt, though the artist remains anonymous. Editor: It’s so stark. The woodcut technique gives it a powerful, almost primitive feel. The contrast between the clothed figure and the naked saint really jumps out. Curator: It highlights a key moment in her story: her encounter with Zosimas in the desert. The woodcut medium itself speaks to the wider context of printmaking's rise and how it disseminated hagiographies, shaping popular piety. Editor: Absolutely. The raw, unrefined lines suggest the labor involved in its production and the mass consumption of religious narratives at that time. It connects spiritual devotion to a very tangible, material process. Curator: And let's not forget the context of the printing press allowing for wider distribution of these stories, impacting social and religious values. Editor: A powerful illustration—it really makes you consider the confluence of faith, labor, and the materials that make that faith visible. Curator: It certainly offers a fascinating glimpse into late medieval piety and the ways in which images shaped it.