1485
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Shield with Lion's Head, Held by Wild Woman is a 1485 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a fierce woman holding a shield with a lion’s head. She’s bare-chested, wearing a fur skirt, and cradling a small child in her left arm. Her hair is wild, and she looks angry or determined. Behind her, a winged figure with a beard and horns seems to be pushing or pulling her from behind. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and textures—notice how the fur and muscles look almost real. This kind of detail was new for its time. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like Schongauer made prints like this.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
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