Putto Riding a Hobby Horse
1520
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1520
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a chubby baby angel riding a stick horse. The angel has little wings and a happy face. The horse is just a straight stick with a carved head. Altdorfer made this small print around 1520. It’s not a big painting, just a tiny engraving on paper. The lines are sharp and detailed, using cross-hatching to shade. It feels playful for its time. Look for the texture in the angel’s hair.
