Artwork
Large Wedding Dancers
Large Wedding Dancers is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1538 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Large Wedding Dancers is a 1538 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever, a German artist linked to the 'Little Masters' group. This print captures a moment from a wedding celebration, rendered in meticulous detail.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving portrays a solemnly attired couple, a man with a staff and cloak, and a woman in a intricately detailed gown, leaning on his arm. Despite the occasion, their expressions are serious and restrained.
Technique & Style
Aldegrever employed sharp lines and nuanced shading to achieve a three-dimensional effect, particularly in the textured depiction of fabrics. The composition is set against a largely plain background, with a small additional motif in one corner.
History & Provenance
Created in 1538, this work exemplifies Aldegrever's contribution to the small-scale print tradition that followed Albrecht Dürer's influence. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Large Wedding Dancers reflects the narrative and craftsmanship values of its time, aligning with the detailed, storytelling-oriented approach characteristic of early 16th-century German engraving.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf (1502–1555, 1558 or 1561) 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.
