1499
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Organ Player and His Wife is a 1499 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows two people in a cozy room. The woman sits on a window seat, holding a small dog and a book. The man stands nearby, tuning a large organ. Shelves behind them hold pots and a mirror. The floor has patterned tiles, and a cat peeks out from under a bench. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, making the scene look almost three-dimensional. This style was common in Renaissance prints. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
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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