Artwork
Dancing Couple
Dancing Couple is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1551 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Dancing Couple is a small-scale engraving created by Heinrich Aldegrever in 1551, exemplifying the detailed and lively scene-making for which the German artist was known.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a pair of dancers in a joyful, intimate pose, with the man and woman connected by a held hand and an arm around her shoulder, conveying a sense of dynamic movement and connection.
Technique & Style
Characterized by refined linework and nuanced shading, the engraving showcases Aldegrever's mastery of engraving techniques, particularly in capturing texture in the figures' attire and hair.
History & Provenance
Created in 1551 by Aldegrever, a prominent figure among the 'Little Masters,' this work follows in the tradition of detailed printmaking established by predecessors like Albrecht Dürer.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
