1551
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dancing Couple is a 1551 ink by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows three figures in a tangle of motion. The two older men are bare-chested, one with his arms raised, the other pulling a younger woman along by the wrist. She’s dressed in a loose, flowing gown, her head turned back toward them as if caught off guard. The background is simple—a few scattered lines that look like a bench or steps. The artist used fine lines and shading to make the figures look alive, even though it’s just ink on paper. The way the lines overlap creates depth, making the clothing and skin textures pop. Want to see more? Check out engraving to learn how artists like this carved their work into metal.
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
See the richer artist page
