1530
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sprig of Ornamental Foliage with Two Masks and Two Dolphins is a 1530 by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a tall, skinny design of leaves and flowers. The center has a big stem with two small masks hanging from it. Tiny dolphins peek out from the leaves on either side. The background is dark, making the light lines stand out. The artist used only two tones—light and dark—to create depth. This trick makes the shapes pop without color. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this works in other art.
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
