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Two Mercenaries and a Woman

Urs Graf I

1524

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Two Mercenaries and a Woman is a 1524 ink by Urs Graf I, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Urs Graf I
When & what style?: 1524 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows a chaotic scene with two rough-looking men in the center, surrounded by swirling, tangled figures. One man holds a sword, while the other grabs a woman’s arm. The background is packed with small, twisted faces and strange shapes—buildings, animals, and what looks like a shipwreck. Everything feels crowded and unsettled, like the characters are caught in a storm of emotions. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to make the scene feel dramatic. Notice how the figures’ faces are exaggerated, almost like masks, which hints at deeper meaning beyond just the action. Want to see more woodcuts like this? Try looking up woodcut.