Artwork
The Old Woman with Grapes
The Old Woman with Grapes is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1523 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Old Woman with Grapes is an engraving created by Lucas van Leyden around 1523, exemplifying his proficiency in printmaking and early contributions to Dutch genre scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving portrays a serene elderly woman adorned with a lace collar and a leaf wreath, holding grapes and a pomegranate, reflecting van Leyden's focus on everyday life subjects.
Technique & Style
Executed in black-and-white, the work showcases intricate line work and nuanced shading, capturing textures such as the collar's folds and the fruit's skin, characteristic of the engraving medium's capabilities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1523 by Lucas van Leyden (born 1494), a pivotal figure in early Dutch printmaking, primarily working in engraving and woodcut.
Context
This piece sits within the broader context of 16th-century Dutch printmaking innovations, where artists like van Leyden elevated the genre scene, focusing on ordinary life depictions.
Legacy
While specific lasting impacts of *The Old Woman with Grapes* are not detailed, van Leyden's overall contributions to refining engraving techniques and popularizing genre scenes in Dutch art are notable.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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