1538
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Large Wedding Dancers is a 1538 ink by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows two people in fancy clothes dancing. The woman wears a long dress with ruffles at the neckline and cuffs, holding a fan. The man’s outfit has big sleeves and a high collar, and he holds her hand. Their poses look stiff but formal, like a posed portrait. Notice how the artist used tiny lines to create shadows and texture—this is how engravings show depth. The background is simple, keeping focus on the dancers’ detailed clothing. Want to see more? Look up engraving to learn how artists like this made prints.
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
