The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine 1510 - 1576

Giulio Bonasone created this print, "The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine," sometime in the 16th century. The medium here is engraving, a printmaking technique that involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then transferring the image to paper under great pressure. The impact of engraving on the image is remarkable; it's all about the line, defining forms with clarity and precision. Note the density of lines used to create shadows and textures. Bonasone was working at a time when printmaking was becoming increasingly important. It allowed for the wide distribution of images, fueling the growth of visual culture. Prints like these were relatively inexpensive, making art accessible to a broader audience. However, the labor-intensive process of engraving, with its skilled craftsmanship, often goes unnoticed. As you look at this print, consider the countless hours it took to incise those intricate lines into the metal. Appreciating the making of the work gives us a more complete understanding of its place in society.