1474
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ornament with the Tree of Jesse is a 1474 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This picture is packed with tiny scenes inside swirly, leafy frames. At the center, a big tree grows upward with people climbing its branches. Around it, angels and saints float or kneel, some holding books or musical instruments. The background is dark, making the white lines pop out sharply. The whole thing looks carved into metal, not painted. That’s because it’s an engraving—lines scratched into a plate, then printed. The artist packed in lots of detail, like a puzzle of stories. Look up engraving to see how this trick works.
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445 – 10 November 1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a German printmaker and goldsmith, perhaps of a Dutch family origin. He was the most prolific engraver of the…
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