Pin Holes for Transfer

Andrea Mantegna Italy, 1431-1506
Battle of the Sea Gods (right half)
engraving
306 mm x 406 mm
Gift of the Max Kade Foundation, 1969.0111 View full record What to Look for: This print (here seen from the back) has been pricked for transfer. Usually this means of transferring an image uses a second sheet of paper. A pin is passed through both sheets of paper, following the major contours of the composition. When finished the second sheet of paper can be placed on whatever surface one wishes to transfer the composition to and charcoal can be dusted through the holes. Then the artist has only to "connect the dots" to accurately transpose the print composition to another support. If you look carefully at the front of this engraving you can see that the outlines have been strengthened with ink to hide the pin holes. Examples like this are wonderful reminders of the way that prints were used as source material by artists, especially during the Renaissance.