1472
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Virgin and Child with the Apple is a 1472 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a woman holding a small child. She’s dressed in flowing robes that drape around her, with one arm wrapped around the child. The woman’s hair is pulled back, and she looks down at the child, who is reaching toward her. The background is plain, keeping all the focus on them. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and textures, especially in the fabric. This was a common way to add depth in early prints. Try looking up engraving to see how artists made detailed images like this before color printing.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
See the richer artist page
