1547
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Harrowing of Hell is a 1547 ink by Augustin Hirschvogel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic scene underground. At the center, a muscular figure with a crown is being pulled upward by others, while a horned creature below clutches a key. Around them, twisted bodies writhe in flames and smoke. The edges are packed with more struggling figures, some reaching toward the light. The text below is in German and seems to describe a biblical story—someone breaking free from a dark place. The artist used sharp lines to show movement and emotion, even without color. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Hirschvogel made prints like this.
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
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