Maria verschijnt aan de heilige Hieronymus 1588

Agostino Carracci created this print, ‘Maria Appears to Saint Jerome’, using engraving. The composition immediately strikes you with its division of space: the earthly realm of Saint Jerome below contrasts sharply with the ethereal gathering of Mary and angels above. Carracci masterfully uses line to create texture and depth. Notice how the dense, cross-hatched lines around Saint Jerome and the landscape give way to finer, more delicate lines that define Mary and the angels, giving them an otherworldly quality. This contrast is a key element. The print engages with the religious narratives prevalent during the Counter-Reformation. However, it goes beyond mere illustration. It invites us to consider how the divine might intersect with the mortal. Note how the placement of figures and the directional flow of lines create a visual dialogue between these realms, subtly destabilizing fixed notions of the sacred and the profane. Carracci encourages us to question the boundaries of perception and belief.