1475
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Circumcision is a 1475 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a group of people gathered around a bed where a baby lies. The scene is packed with figures, some standing, some kneeling, all dressed in flowing robes. One woman holds the baby, while others reach toward them or watch closely. The background has a building with arched windows, and the whole scene is drawn with fine lines and shading. The way the artist used lots of tiny parallel lines to create shadows and texture is called cross-hatching. It gives the image depth without color. Check out how cross-hatching works in this print.
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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