Gentleman and Lady Riding to the Hunt (Woodcut; third state of three (Hollstein))
Original title: Gentleman and Lady Riding to the Hunt
kurzbeschreibung
A noble couple rides through a landscape in this woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder. The sheet bears no date but was likely made around 1500; it is the third of three print states.
Description
Two riders, a man and a woman, sit on their horses. The man stands out for his unusual headgear and armor, the woman for her elaborate hairstyle and dress. Both carry riding crops. Beneath the animals run two dogs. Trees and bushes form the backdrop, while a mountain crowned by a castle dominates the view. A coat of arms appears at the top, and the year 1500 is inscribed at the lower right.
Context
Cranach the Elder was then active in Vienna and devoted himself to printmaking. A noble hunting couple matched the courtly taste of the years around 1500. The date 1500 noted in the image points to an early phase of his career.
Impact
The eye is guided calmly across the sheet by clear lines and a steady arrangement. The layout feels unhurried and precise, creating a quiet, almost idyllic mood that brings the courtly hunting day to life.
Technique
The woodcut survives in the third of three print states. It was printed in black and white; line and hatching provide the internal drawing of figures and landscape.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)