Draughtsman Making a Perspective Drawing of a Reclining Woman
Original title: Draughtsman Making a Perspective Drawing of a Reclining Woman
kurzbeschreibung
This woodcut, attributed to Albrecht Dürer, dates to around 1600 and shows an artist drawing a reclining woman in perspective. The horizontal print measures 7.7 x 21.4 cm and is in black and white.
Description
On the right, a draftsman works on a sheet of paper, while on the left a woman rests on a cushion. Two windows open onto a landscape with buildings and a river; on the windowsill sit a jug and a potted plant. Fine hatching and lines run throughout, modeling textures and forms. The layout unfolds horizontally, with the two figures clearly separated.
Context
Since the artist died in 1528, this woodcut comes from his workshop or followers; the dating around 1600 points to a later copy or reproduction. In 1525 Dürer published his textbook 'Underweysung der messung', which explained perspective constructions for artists. This print illustrates such a method, in which a thread grid transfers proportions. Such instructional pieces on perspective were widespread in the 16th century.
Impact
The precise linework and calm arrangement create a factual, almost didactic mood. That draftsman and model are clearly separated brings the technical process of perspective construction to the fore and encourages the viewer to examine it closely.
Technique
For this sheet, the design was incised into a woodblock and then offset onto paper. The resulting print brings out the fine hatching and varied linework with remarkable precision, giving clear definition to the figures, the windows and the landscape beyond, while the composition remains strictly black and white.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)