Der Groff (The Count)
1526
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1526
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Der Groff (The Count) is a 1526 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a chaotic scene of people tangled in vines and branches. Some figures are standing, others are falling or crawling. The background has jagged mountains and swirling clouds. The lines are sharp and dark, with no color—just black and white. The title *Der Groff* hints this might be a warning about power or corruption. The messy, tangled figures could symbolize something going wrong in a group. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printing method worked.
