Who painted Eight Nude Children at a Well?

Eight Nude Children at a Well was painted by Heinrich Aldegrever in 1539.

Where can I see Eight Nude Children at a Well?

Eight Nude Children at a Well is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Eight Nude Children at a Well?

Eight Nude Children at a Well is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Eight Nude Children at a Well

Heinrich Aldegrever , 1539

Eight Nude Children at a Well is a print by the Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1539 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Heinrich Aldegrever’s 1539 woodcut, titled Eight Nude Children at a Well, presents a lively group of young figures gathered around a well. The composition captures a moment of play, with some children climbing, one holding a bucket, and another striking a drum, all rendered in a dynamic, intertwined arrangement.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a carefree scene of childhood activity, emphasizing the physicality and movement of the youths. By portraying the children in the nude, Aldegrever highlights the natural human form and the innocence of play, while the well serves as a focal point that unites the figures in a shared space.

Technique & Style

Aldegrever employs strong contrasts of light and dark, using chiaroscuro to give the figures a three‑dimensional presence against a deep background. The careful shading outlines muscular yet youthful bodies, and the crisp lines convey a sense of immediacy, suggesting the figures are captured in the midst of motion.

History & Provenance

Created in the early sixteenth century, the print is part of Aldegrever’s broader output of religious and secular woodcuts. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view, representing an example of Northern Renaissance printmaking and the artist’s interest in genre scenes.

Artist & collection

Artist

Heinrich Aldegrever

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.