1550
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Ornament Design with a Bat in the Center is a 1550 by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print is packed with strange, swirling shapes. At the center, a bat clings to a tall, lantern-like object with a glowing top. Around it, winged figures hold up scrolls, tools, and a fan. The edges are filled with vines, leaves, and tiny faces peeking from the shadows. The bat isn’t just decoration—it’s the main focus, sitting right in the middle like a secret symbol. The whole scene feels busy but controlled, with sharp lines and deep shadows. If you like this mix of weird and detailed, check out Renaissance art next.
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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