The Virgin and Child with Saints

About this work

This print shows a group of people gathered around a woman holding two small children. The figures are carved with deep shadows and soft light, giving them a three-dimensional feel. Some people stand, others kneel, and a dog lies at the front. The background looks like a dark, textured wall with a curtain or cloth hanging to the side. The artist used a technique called *chiaroscuro*—that’s just a fancy term for strong light-and-shadow contrast. It makes the scene feel dramatic and almost sculptural. Next, check out the technique: woodcut to see how prints like this were made.