1526
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Cardinal is a 1526 ink by Hans Lützelburger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows two figures tangled in vines and branches. One stands with a wide-brimmed hat, holding a staff, while the other clings to him from behind. The background is packed with swirling leaves and thorny plants, framing them like a wall. Notice how the lines are all carved into the same flat surface—no shading, just sharp contrasts. The artist used only black ink on light paper to create the whole scene. Look up woodcut to see how this printmaking technique works.
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.
See the richer artist page
