Saint John the Baptist Pray for Us c. 1820

This print of Saint John the Baptist was made anonymously using woodcut and stencils, and it was sold from a print shop in Chartres, France. Woodcut is a relief printing process, where the image is carved into a block of wood. The remaining raised surface is inked and then pressed onto paper, leaving a bold graphic impression. The stencil was then applied to add color to the print in a simple and direct way. The texture of the wood grain is visible in the background, adding depth and a handmade quality. The act of printing itself speaks to the democratization of imagery. Woodcut prints like these made religious iconography accessible and affordable to a wide audience, moving away from unique, expensive paintings for the elite. By understanding the printmaking process, we can appreciate the blend of technical skill and mass production that defines this captivating devotional image.