1555
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Two Elders Convicted by the Testimony of Daniel is a 1555 ink by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a dramatic scene with two older men being pointed at by a younger figure. One man clutches a book, while the other reaches out helplessly. In the background, a crumbling building and a shield with a cross add to the tension. The lines are sharp and detailed, capturing movement and emotion in black and white. The younger figure seems to be accusing the elders, possibly based on a biblical story. The artist used fine lines to create texture, like the folds in clothing or the rough stone walls. Next, look up technique: etching to see how artists like Aldegrever made these precise, expressive 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
