1553
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
A Vase between Two Chimeric Figures is a 1553 by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows two odd, winged creatures kneeling on either side of a tall vase. The vase has a wide base and a narrow neck, topped with a leafy crown. The creatures have human heads and curly hair, but their bodies mix feathers, scales, and fur. Tiny cherubs peek out from behind the vase, and the whole scene is framed by swirling vines and flowers. The creatures look like they’re made up of parts from different animals—a mix of eagle, fish, and lion. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to make the shapes pop. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this print uses light and dark.
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
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