1526
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Der Kauffman (The Merchant) is a 1526 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a chaotic scene with a group of people tangled in ropes and nets. Ships loom in the background, their sails and masts crisscrossing the sky. One figure lies sprawled on the ground, while others struggle or reach upward, their faces twisted in effort. The title *Der Kauffman* hints this might be about greed or trade gone wrong. The messy ropes and ships suggest a warning about getting trapped by money or deals. Next, check out how this was made with the technique: woodcut.
Hans Lützelburger (died June 1526), also known as Hans Franck, was a German blockcutter ("formschneider") for woodcuts, regarded as one of the finest of his day.
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