Heilige Marta met wijwatervat en vastgebonden duivel 1500 - 1527

This is 'Heilige Marta met wijwatervat en vastgebonden duivel', or Saint Martha with a stoup and bound devil, made by Marcantonio Raimondi. It’s an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. Engraving like this was a key technology in early modern Europe. It allowed images to be reproduced and distributed widely, connecting far-flung communities in new ways. Here, Raimondi uses the technique to depict Saint Martha, known for her hospitality and piety. Note how the crisp lines of the engraving define the textures of her robes and the contours of her face. Look closely and you can see the fine details of the devil she has subdued, his form rendered with meticulous precision. The act of engraving itself—laborious and demanding—lends a sense of gravity to the image. It speaks to the power of craft to communicate complex religious and social ideas, making them accessible to a broad audience. Raimondi elevates printmaking, showing us that 'fine art' can be found even in the most reproducible of forms.