The Spinner 

Hans Holbein the Younger made this woodcut, ‘The Spinner,’ in Basel, Switzerland, at some point in his career. The image is achieved through the process of relief printing, where the artist carves away the negative space from a block of wood, leaving the design to be inked and printed. The density of the lines is what gives the print its dramatic effect. The stark contrast between black and white emphasizes the subject and setting – an old woman spinning under a supernatural sky. The level of detail achieved with this technique is remarkable. The artist must have used specialized tools to carve the block, and the printing process would have required skill to transfer the image without losing clarity. This print belongs to a broader tradition of craftsmanship, where the artistry lies not only in the design but also in the skilled execution of the medium. Thinking about the labor involved, from preparing the block to pulling the prints, underscores the value of craftsmanship and its connection to social and cultural life in Holbein's time.