Annunciatie 1725

Editor: This is Jan Wandelaar's 1725 engraving, "Annunciation," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. I find the contrast of light and shadow quite striking. What immediately grabs your attention in this print? Curator: The linear quality is paramount here. Notice how Wandelaar employs hatching and cross-hatching, primarily in service to tone and form. Where do your eyes go first, and why? Editor: My eye is drawn to the angel hovering on the cloud because of the light emanating from above, and how that contrast with the heavy shading surrounding Mary. Curator: Indeed, and consider how the artist uses line weight. The density and direction of these lines not only create areas of dark and light, but also define the drapery, musculature, and even the atmospheric perspective. What do you observe about the lines that create the angel versus those that define Mary? Editor: The angel feels much lighter and airy compared to Mary. Perhaps that is to emphasize her earthly form? It’s created with a more delicate network of lines. Curator: Precisely. Also consider how the engraver's hand, his technical virtuosity, impacts our understanding of the subject. The engraving technique lends itself to sharp contrasts and intricate details that contribute to the Baroque aesthetic, creating dynamic and theatrical scene. Do you agree that this medium is best suited for a religious story, like The Annunciation? Editor: Actually, I never thought about how an engraving style like this one suits narrative art, and Baroque’s dynamic scenes are all about it! Curator: Analyzing the formal elements in this engraving opens the possibility of an appreciation of Wandelaar's skill as a technician, and also how technique serves composition, narrative, and ultimately, meaning. Editor: It makes me wonder how different the image would feel with a different method like etching or mezzotint. Thank you!