The Virgin in the Niche

About this work

This is a black-and-white engraving of a woman holding a small child. She’s dressed in flowing robes, with one hand resting on the child’s back. The background looks like a tall, empty niche with rough stone walls. The woman’s face is calm, and the child clings to her neck. The artist used tiny lines to create shadows and texture, especially in the folds of the cloth and the stone. This technique makes the scene look three-dimensional. Check out how engraving works to see how artists like this carved lines into metal to make prints.