Virgin and Child with St. John
1625
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1625
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a woman holding a baby while an angel and a child kneel nearby. The woman’s face is calm, the baby rests against her, and the angel behind her has wings. A small lamb sits beside the child, and all figures look soft and rounded. The print uses deep shadows and light to make the figures stand out sharply. The artist carved these details into the plate, which is how prints like this work. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works.
