Who painted Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child was painted by Hans Baldung Grien in 1516.

Where can I see Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Madonna and Child

Hans Baldung Grien , 1516

Madonna and Child is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1516 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1516, this woodcut presents a devotional scene of the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1516, this woodcut presents a devotional scene of the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ. Executed on laid paper, the image combines a floating, ethereal setting with a grounded figure kneeling below, offering a book. Small angels and a portrait vignette appear at the margins, adding narrative depth to the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The central figures—Mary and the Child—are rendered as a serene, hovering pair, emphasizing their spiritual elevation. The kneeling man, likely a donor or patron, holds an open book, suggesting prayer or scriptural contemplation. The surrounding clouds and diminutive angels reinforce the heavenly atmosphere, while the ancillary portrait may signify a personal dedication or memorial.

Technique & Style

The print employs the woodcut method, in which incised wooden blocks are inked and pressed onto laid paper. Baldung Grien’s line work is precise, producing strong contrasts between deep shadows and illuminated areas. Textural details, such as the folds of the robe and the turbulent clouds, are achieved through fine hatching, a hallmark of early 16th‑century German printmaking.

History & Provenance

Hans Baldung Grien, a pupil of Albrecht Dürer, produced this work during his mature phase within the German Renaissance and emerging Mannerist currents.

Hans Baldung Grien, a pupil of Albrecht Dürer, produced this work during his mature phase within the German Renaissance and emerging Mannerist currents. Known for his versatility across painting, stained glass, and print, Baldung’s output included altarpieces and portraiture. The woodcut was intended for multiple reproductions, facilitating its circulation among devotional audiences of the period.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hans Baldung Grien

Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…