1513
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple is a 1513 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a group of four people in a dimly lit room. The oldest man holds a small child wrapped in cloth, while a woman beside him reaches out. The background is filled with heavy, textured lines that look like curtains or drapery. Everyone’s faces are serious, and the lighting comes from the right side, casting shadows across their clothes. The artist used cross-hatching—tiny parallel lines—to create depth and texture, especially in the fabrics and faces. This was a common way to add shading in woodcuts. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printing technique works.
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…
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
