Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John the Baptist c. 1513

Jacopo Francia made this print, Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John the Baptist, sometime in the 16th century. It’s an etching, a printmaking technique where the artist uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you'll see that Francia wasn't only concerned with depicting a sacred scene. He pays particular attention to the textures and activities of domestic life. Saint Elizabeth is shown with a distaff and spindle, tools associated with spinning flax into thread - women’s work. See how Francia renders the wisps of fiber, almost like a halo, emphasizing the dignity of labor. The etching process itself also demanded intensive labor and skill, as Francia controlled the corrosive action of the acid. These lines create areas of tone and shadow, a testament to both the subject and the making. So, next time you look at a print, consider not only the image but also the hands and the processes that brought it into being. It can tell us a lot about what the artist and society values.