Artwork
Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf
Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf is an ink print by the Baroque artist Andreas Bretschneider III. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Andreas Bretschneider III’s 1622 etching, titled Exempel und Lehr Jetziger Welt Lauf, presents a modestly sized print that captures a quiet domestic tableau. Executed in the early seventeenth‑century German tradition of line engraving, the work measures roughly the dimensions typical of the period’s copper plates.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows three figures—a woman in a long robe positioned centrally, flanked by two seated men. They are gathered around a large basket, with one man holding a smaller basket and the other resting a hand on the larger one. The arrangement suggests a moment of shared activity or instruction, inviting contemplation of everyday labor or moral instruction.
Technique & Style
Bretschneider employs fine, incised lines characteristic of drypoint etching, creating delicate shading and texture. The intricate hatching builds depth, while the crisp outlines define the figures and objects. The overall effect is a restrained yet detailed rendering that emphasizes surface detail over dramatic chiaroscuro.
History & Provenance
Created in 1622, the print belongs to a period when German printmakers often produced didactic or genre scenes for a modest market. Documentation of its ownership is limited, but the work has appeared in catalogues of early modern German prints and is held in several public collections specializing in seventeenth‑century graphic art.
Artist & collection
