Donna Livonica 1598

Christoph Krieger made this woodcut, entitled Donna Livonica. The artwork is from a book, and this informs the process: a sharp tool was used to carve away the negative space, leaving the lines of the image standing proud to receive ink. The material, wood, is fundamental to the impact of the image. It is an end-grain block, hard enough to render these fine, delicate lines. See how the artist exploited the inherent qualities of the wood and tools. Note the areas of hatching, used to create tone and volume. This requires the artist to make many cuts into the block. The resulting print is a direct translation of that physical effort. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, this print testifies to the power of the printing press, and the cultural phenomenon of readily available images. This simple image opens onto wider issues of labor, production and the consumption of imagery, challenging any distinction between art and craft.