Artwork
Apprentices Fighting
Apprentices Fighting is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1480 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Apprentices Fighting is an engraving created by Martin Schongauer around 1480. It is one of 116 engravings produced by the artist, who was a prominent figure in Northern Renaissance printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a chaotic scene of two young apprentices fighting in a confined space, with a stool and abandoned food suggesting a sudden and intense altercation.
Technique & Style
Schongauer's use of cross-hatching, achieved through tiny parallel lines, creates a sense of depth and solidity in the figures. The engraving is characterized by sharp, simple lines and a monochromatic color scheme.
History & Provenance
Martin Schongauer was an Alsatian painter and engraver active from the mid-15th century until his death in 1491. He is considered a significant printmaker north of the Alps before Albrecht Dürer.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer (c. 1450–1453, Colmar – 2 February 1491, Breisach), also known as Martin Schön ("Martin beautiful") or Hübsch Martin ("pretty Martin") by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter. He…
