Annunciatie 1635 - 1694

Dirck de Bray made this small print of the Annunciation sometime in the late 17th century, using a wood block. The stark contrast between black and white is so typical of the technique. Using a sharp tool, the artist would carve away the negative space around the image. What remains of the block takes the ink, and then transfers the design to paper. The artist had to be incredibly precise, working at such a small scale. Notice, for instance, the tight parallel lines used to create tone and shadow. This print comes out of a long history of image reproduction that really took off in Europe with the rise of the printing press. Woodcuts like this allowed for the relatively inexpensive distribution of images. In this way, the story of the Annunciation could reach a broad audience, beyond those who could afford an original painting. Considering its meticulous making and cultural accessibility really expands our understanding of this humble, but powerful artwork.