Maria met kind 1707

Jacob Folkema created this small engraving, Maria met kind, sometime before his death in 1767. The image, printed on paper, shows the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. Folkema was a skilled printmaker, and his expertise is evident in the fine lines that define form, light, and shadow. Look closely, and you’ll see how he used a technique called hatching – closely spaced parallel lines – to create darker areas, and how he varied the pressure of his engraving tool to achieve subtle gradations of tone. This would have required tremendous dexterity, and a deep understanding of how ink interacts with the paper. Engravings like this were not just works of art, they were also commodities produced for a growing market. Think about the labor involved: from the preparation of the copper plate to the printing of multiple impressions. Each print could then be sold and distributed widely, bringing religious imagery into the homes of ordinary people. This combination of technical skill and commercial intent makes Folkema’s print a fascinating object.