Saint George and the Dragon

About this work

This engraving shows a knight on horseback fighting a dragon near a castle. A princess stands nearby, holding a cross. The knight’s sword is raised, while the dragon’s tail coils around a rock. Trees and a small bridge frame the scene, and a few figures watch from the castle walls. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, especially in the knight’s armor and the dragon’s scales. Notice how the lines overlap to show shadows—this was a new way to make flat paper look three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Schongauer carved images into metal.