Artwork
Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf
Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf is an ink print by the Baroque artist Andreas Bretschneider III. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Andreas Bretschneider III’s 1622 etching titled Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf depicts a densely packed boat teeming with figures. The composition is dominated by a tumultuous crowd, a serene cat perched on a branch, and a distant floating town, all rendered in the stark linear quality typical of early seventeenth‑century printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a chaotic mass of people jostling for space, some climbing over one another, others slipping into the water, suggesting a commentary on societal disorder or the precariousness of human endeavors. The calm cat above the fray and the distant, tranquil town may serve as ironic counterpoints, highlighting the contrast between panic and composure.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, Bretschneider incised fine, decisive lines into a metal plate, producing a network of sharp contours that convey motion and tension. The use of cross‑hatching and varied line weight creates depth and a sense of immediacy, while the stark contrasts emphasize the crowded interior of the vessel against the open sky and water.
Context
Created in the early Baroque period, the work reflects contemporary interests in allegorical and moralizing subjects, often illustrated through vivid, crowded scenes. The inclusion of a floating town and birds aligns with the era’s fascination with the interplay between human activity and the natural world, a theme common in Northern European prints of the time.
Own this work as a print
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