Holy Family 1539 - 1549

This ‘Holy Family’ print was made around 1540 by the artist known only as Master ND. It’s made using a process called chiaroscuro woodcut, which is all about creating a sense of light and shadow. The artist used multiple woodblocks, each inked with a different tone, to build up the image. You can see how the ink sits on the surface of the paper, giving a tactile quality, almost like a low relief. The choice of this technique, instead of say an engraving, is interesting. Woodcut was a more direct, less refined method, often associated with popular imagery. The way the blocks are aligned is also key. The slight misregistrations and overlaps are part of the aesthetic – a reminder of the hand-made process. Even though this print could be reproduced, each impression would have its own unique character, born from the artist's labor and the material's inherent qualities. This brings a unique texture to the print.