1789
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Idris is a 1789 ink by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows two scenes stacked vertically. The top one is chaotic: a man is crucified on an X-shaped cross, surrounded by swirling flames and dark, tangled lines. The bottom scene is calmer—a knight on horseback stands beside a fallen man while another figure kneels nearby, holding a branch. The top scene looks violent and dramatic, while the bottom feels more like a quiet moment. These prints were often used to tell stories with strong emotions. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists create deep, detailed prints like this.
Daniel Niklaus Chodowiecki (16 October 1726 – 7 February 1801) was a German painter and printmaker of Huguenot and Polish ancestry, who is most famous as an etcher.
See the richer artist page
