Artwork
Cleopatra Standing
Cleopatra Standing is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sebald Beham’s 1529 engraving titled "Cleopatra Standing" presents a nude female figure positioned before a doorway. The composition is rendered in black and white, with the woman holding a key in one hand and a set of chains in the other, while a vase rests on the floor and the door features a latch and two circular handles.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of the key and chains suggests a narrative of confinement and release, inviting interpretation of the figure as a symbolic or mythological character—potentially alluding to Cleopatra’s legendary suicide or themes of imprisonment and liberation.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine lines on a metal plate, the engraving displays Beham’s characteristic precision and attention to minute detail. The sharp incisions create a high-contrast surface that emphasizes texture, from the smooth skin of the figure to the metallic hardware of the door.
History & Provenance
Sebald Beham, a native of Nuremberg born in 1500, was a prominent member of the “Little Masters,” a circle of German printmakers noted for their diminutive yet intricate works. By the end of his career he was active in Frankfurt, and the engraving is one of roughly 252 prints attributed to him.
Context
Created during the early sixteenth century, the work reflects the influence of Albrecht Dürer’s generation, whose emphasis on technical mastery and classical subject matter shaped the output of the Little Masters. Beham’s prints often combined erotic or allegorical content with meticulous craftsmanship.
Legacy
"Cleopatra Standing" exemplifies the high level of skill achievable in small-scale printmaking and contributes to the understanding of how German artists of the period engaged with classical motifs and narrative ambiguity within the medium of engraving.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
