1520
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Abraham's Sacrifice is a 1520 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a dramatic scene in a rocky landscape. A muscular man stands with his back to us, holding a knife and a bundle over his shoulder. A small figure clings to his leg, reaching up. In the background, a fire burns, and clouds swirl above. The artist used sharp lines to show tension and movement, especially in the man’s posture and the twisting sky. The woodcut style makes everything look carved, with no soft edges. Next, look up woodcut to see how artists like Altdorfer made prints this way.
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
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