1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint John is a 1518 ink by Hans Springinklee, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a robed figure kneeling on clouds, holding a book and pointing upward. Behind them is a glowing halo with sunrays, and two columns frame the scene. The edges are packed with swirling decorative patterns—leaves, scrolls, and tiny faces peeking out. The artist used sharp lines and heavy black ink to create this image, a style called woodcut. That means the design was carved into wood, then inked and pressed onto paper. Next, check out the technique: woodcut to see how it works.
Hans Springinklee (c.1490/c.1495 – c.1540) was a German artist from Nuremberg, best known for his woodcuts. He was a pupil of Albrecht Dürer.
See the richer artist page
