1485
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Martin is a 1485 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a robed man with curly hair cutting his cloak with a sword. He stands over a shivering, half-naked person on the ground. The man’s cloak drapes dramatically, and the scene is drawn in sharp, precise lines. The artist used cross-hatching—layers of crisscrossed lines—to create shadows and texture. This technique makes the figures look solid despite the monochrome. Check out engraving to see how artists built depth with just ink and lines.
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…
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
