1485
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ Blessing the Virgin is a 1485 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a solemn scene with three figures. On the left, a woman in flowing robes kneels, holding a book. In the center, a bearded man with a crown of thorns sits on a draped platform, blessing her with one hand. Above them, two small angels hover, one holding a scroll. The lines are sharp and detailed, with deep shadows and textures in the fabric and hair. The artist used a technique called *cross-hatching*—layers of crisscrossed lines—to create depth and shading. This was a big deal in Renaissance prints. Look up engraving to see how artists like Schongauer made prints like this.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
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