Artwork
Masquerade
Masquerade is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist German 16th Century. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Masquerade is a drawing executed with pen and brown ink complemented by watercolor washes on laid paper. The work’s title suggests a theme of disguise or performance, though the image itself is not described here. As a hand‑drawn piece, it reflects the artist’s direct engagement with line and pigment on a traditional support.
Technique & Style
The artist employed pen to delineate forms, using brown ink to create tonal variation, while watercolor adds subtle washes of color. Laid paper, characterized by its ribbed texture, provides a tactile surface that interacts with the ink and pigment, emphasizing the drawing’s material qualities and the interplay between line and hue.
Artist & collection
Artist
A German artist of the late 1500s drew knights clashing in parades and mock battles, filling sheets with detailed ink colored lightly in watercolor: soldiers mid-joust, shields flying, foot soldiers sparring with spears.
![Abraham Entertaining the Angels [verso], by German 16th Century](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/german-16th-century--abraham-entertaining-the-angels-verso--69d1b25f4eba0a53-w320.webp)
