1472
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Death of the Virgin is a 1472 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a crowded scene of people gathered around a dying woman on a bed. Some hold candles or books, while others kneel or stand nearby. The figures look twisted and dramatic, with lots of swirling lines and dark shadows. A small child stands beside the bed, holding a staff with a cross on top. The artist used tiny, repeated lines to build up shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. It makes the scene feel intense and full of movement. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with lines.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
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