The Mass of Saint Gregory c. 1480 - 1490

Israhel van Meckenem made this engraving, The Mass of Saint Gregory, using a metal plate, likely copper, and a tool called a burin to carve lines into its surface. This wasn't like drawing; it was about careful, controlled cuts that would hold ink, before being pressed onto paper. The image shows Saint Gregory kneeling before an altar, with a vision of Christ appearing before him. What’s fascinating is the contrast between the religious subject and the mode of production. Engravings like this weren't just art; they were early forms of mass media. Each print was a multiple, made to be sold and distributed widely. Look at the precision and detail achieved through skilled labor and repetitive actions. Van Meckenem was both an artist and an entrepreneur, running a workshop that produced images for a growing market. The very act of creating this artwork—the labor, the skill, the materials—reflects the economic and social shifts of the late 15th century. This print shows how art and craft are deeply entwined with the culture of its time, and how traditional distinctions just don’t hold up.