Artwork
Bath House
Bath House is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the British Museum.
About this work
Overview
Bath House is a woodcut print on laid paper created around 1496 by Albrecht Dürer. The work belongs to the genre‑scene tradition, portraying an everyday activity rather than a religious or mythological subject. It is executed as a single‑color woodcut, typical of Dürer’s early output before his later, more celebrated prints.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a modest interior where a man sits in a shallow wooden tub while a second figure pours water over his back from a bucket. Steam rises from the hot water, emphasizing the intimate, communal nature of bathing in a medieval bathhouse. The composition captures a moment of routine hygiene, reflecting daily life in the late‑15th‑century German context.
Technique & Style
Dürer employs fine, sharply cut lines that render the wood grain of the walls and the texture of the tub with remarkable clarity. Thick outlines define the figures, while subtle variations in line density suggest light and shadow, giving the cramped space a sense of depth. The precision of the cuts demonstrates the artist’s early mastery of the woodcut medium.
History & Provenance
Produced at the outset of Dürer’s career, Bath House predates his more famous works such as the “Praying Hands” and his later engravings. The print illustrates the development of his technical skill with tools and his interest in realistic observation. Surviving copies are held in several European print collections, attesting to its circulation among early modern audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
