Marcus de evangelist 1590 - 1650

Antoine Sallaert created this print of Marcus the Evangelist sometime before his death in 1650, using a woodblock and ink. Look closely, and you can see how the lines have been built up by manually cutting away at the block. The labor involved in the production of these prints is palpable. It is a physically demanding and time-consuming process to carve away at the block, and because the artist is working with a negative image, everything has to be carefully planned in advance. The success of prints like this lies in Sallaert’s ability to translate texture and tone into a series of precisely gouged lines. Notice the contrast between the dense hatching that defines the saint’s robes and the broader lines that describe the lion. The resulting image has a graphic quality, where the interplay of light and shadow accentuates the textures of both the wood and the ink. By paying attention to the material qualities of this print, we gain a richer appreciation for the skill and labor involved in its making.