Who painted A Man Overpowered By Thieves?

A Man Overpowered By Thieves was painted by Heinrich Aldegrever in 1554.

Where can I see A Man Overpowered By Thieves?

A Man Overpowered By Thieves is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Man Overpowered By Thieves?

A Man Overpowered By Thieves is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

A Man Overpowered By Thieves

Heinrich Aldegrever , 1554

A Man Overpowered By Thieves is an ink drawing by the Northern Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1554 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Heinrich Aldegrever’s drawing *A Man Overpowered By Thieves*, executed circa 1554, is a small‑scale work in black ink and gray wash on buff laid paper.

Heinrich Aldegrever’s drawing *A Man Overpowered By Thieves*, executed circa 1554, is a small‑scale work in black ink and gray wash on buff laid paper. The composition captures a violent encounter in a stark, rocky landscape, where a fallen figure is surrounded by several aggressors. The piece reflects Aldegrever’s affiliation with the German “Little Masters,” a group noted for finely detailed, modestly sized prints in the decades after Albrecht Dürer.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents a man lying prone on a craggy ground, his body besieged by a group of attackers. The assailants, identifiable by their hats and varied garments, appear to be in the act of looting or assault, suggesting themes of vulnerability, lawlessness, and the precariousness of human security in a hostile environment. The intensity of the encounter is conveyed through the cramped arrangement of figures and their aggressive gestures.

Technique & Style

Aldegrever employs a restrained yet expressive line work, combining fine cross‑hatching with broader gray washes to model form and suggest depth. The ink outlines define the figures and the rocky terrain, while the wash adds tonal variation, creating a sense of atmosphere and movement. The drawing’s compact scale and meticulous detail exemplify the “Little Masters” emphasis on precision within limited dimensions.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑16th century, the drawing belongs to Aldegrever’s oeuvre of prints and drawings produced during his most active period. Though specific ownership records are sparse, the work has been catalogued among his surviving drawings and is representative of his contribution to the German Renaissance print tradition following Dürer’s influence.

Artist & collection

Artist

Heinrich Aldegrever

Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.