Who painted Man and Woman Descending Staircase?

Man and Woman Descending Staircase was painted by Gottfried Engelmann in 1819.

Where can I see Man and Woman Descending Staircase?

Man and Woman Descending Staircase is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Man and Woman Descending Staircase?

Man and Woman Descending Staircase is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Man and Woman Descending Staircase?

Museum-quality prints of Man and Woman Descending Staircase are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Man and Woman Descending Staircase

Gottfried Engelmann , 1819

Man and Woman Descending Staircase is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Gottfried Engelmann. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower center below image: Lavis Lithographique par G. Engelmann / 4e essai 1819.; by later hand, lower right in graphite: 10

About this work

Overview

Executed on wove paper, the print presents a dimly lit interior where a male and female figure move down a stone staircase.

Gottfried Engelmann’s lithograph Man and Woman Descending Staircase dates to 1819. Executed on wove paper, the print presents a dimly lit interior where a male and female figure move down a stone staircase. The composition is framed by tall arched windows and a rib‑vaulted ceiling reminiscent of Gothic architecture, while palm trees flank the corners, creating an unexpected juxtaposition of tropical foliage and stone.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a solitary couple navigating a descending stairwell, a motif that invites contemplation of movement through space and time. The contrast between the solemn, vaulted setting and the lively palm trees may suggest a tension between the sacred and the exotic, or between the permanence of stone and the transience of human passage.

Technique & Style

Engelmann employed lithography, a relatively recent printmaking method in the early nineteenth century, which allowed for delicate line work and subtle tonal gradations. The medium’s capacity for fine detail is evident in the rendering of the architectural ribs, the texture of the stone steps, and the intricate foliage, demonstrating the artist’s command of the process.

History & Provenance

Created in 1819, the lithograph reflects the period’s growing interest in experimental print techniques. While specific ownership records are scarce, the piece is documented as part of Engelmann’s early output, marking his engagement with lithography at a time when the medium was gaining prominence among German artists.