1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Nativity is a 1516 ink by Ludwig Krug, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a cramped stone room with a rough archway. A woman sits on the floor, holding a baby while two others sleep nearby. An older man leans in, and a bearded traveler in a wide hat stands by the doorway, looking in. Outside, a bare tree and a cross shape loom against a dark sky. The tiny space and crowded figures make the scene feel urgent. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and textures, like the woman’s cloak or the brick wall. This is an example of engraving.
Ludwig Krug (1488 – 1532) was a German goldsmith, engraver, and sculptor. Together with Wenzel Jamnitzer, he is considered among the most important goldsmiths of the 16th century in what is now Germany.
See the richer artist page
