1485
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Leaf Ornament is a 1485 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a single, twisting vine with leaves and flowers. The lines are dark and precise, almost like a sketch carved into metal. The leaves curve outward in fancy shapes, some with tiny buds or flowers at the ends. This kind of detailed line work is called *engraving*—the artist etched the design into a metal plate first. The paper has a textured look, like old paper with a grid pattern. Next, check out how *engraving* works to see how artists create these sharp, layered lines.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
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