Who painted Bagpiper?

Bagpiper was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1514.

Where can I see Bagpiper?

Bagpiper is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Bagpiper?

Bagpiper is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Bagpiper?

Museum-quality prints of Bagpiper are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Bagpiper

Albrecht Dürer , 1514

Bagpiper is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:in plate, lower left: 1514 / AD [artist's monogram]; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: 1. [?]; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: a[1?]; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: 255

About this work

Overview

The engraving demonstrates Dürer's mastery of line and his ability to convey movement and character within a small, self-contained format.

Bagpiper is an engraving by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, executed in 1514. The work depicts a solitary male figure in profile, playing a bagpipe while walking. The composition is tightly framed, focusing entirely on the musician and his instrument against a blank background, a format typical of Dürer's independent prints from this period.

Dürer renders the figure with precise linear detail, capturing the folds of the clothing, the texture of the bag, and the mechanical components of the instrument. The date 1514 is inscribed within the image, marking it as a product of the artist's mature period in Nuremberg. This work belongs to a series of genre scenes and character studies Dürer produced around this time, reflecting a growing interest in everyday life and individual expression alongside his religious and allegorical subjects.

The engraving demonstrates Dürer's mastery of line and his ability to convey movement and character within a small, self-contained format. It stands as a significant example of Northern Renaissance printmaking, illustrating the artist's engagement with secular themes and his technical virtuosity in translating complex forms into the medium of engraving.

Technique & Style

Created through the intaglio process, the work employs a network of fine incised lines that build tonal variation across the paper’s textured surface. Dürer’s handling of hatching and cross‑hatching achieves subtle shading, while the crisp outlines emphasize the bagpipe’s form, illustrating his mastery of printmaking techniques that were advancing in early sixteenth‑century Germany.

History & Provenance

Since its production, the engraving has been part of several collections, ultimately entering the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The museum acquired the piece as part of its broader effort to assemble representative works by Dürer, ensuring public access to this example of his early print oeuvre.