The Annunciation 1470 - 1500

This is Master FVB's "The Annunciation," a print on paper created around the late 15th century. The scene is immediately striking due to its complex composition and the density of its linework. The artist employs a rigorous approach to space, organizing the scene into a carefully structured interior. The checkered floor creates a receding perspective, guiding our eyes toward the bed and the architectural details in the background. Notice how the figures of the angel and Mary are rendered with precise, almost sculptural lines. Their drapery, deeply creased, adds a tactile quality to the image, contrasting with the smooth surfaces of their faces. The artist balances the divine and the domestic, framing a moment of profound spiritual significance within the confines of a private chamber. The density of detail and the formal arrangement of elements invite us to consider the Annunciation not just as a religious event, but as a carefully constructed visual statement. The image invites endless interpretations, resisting any single or fixed meaning.