Artwork
Ornament Design with a Mask, A Couple of Tritons, and Two Children Below
Ornament Design with a Mask, A Couple of Tritons, and Two Children Below is a print by the Renaissance artist Heinrich Aldegrever. It dates from 1549 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ornament Design with a Mask, A Couple of Tritons, and Two Children Below is a print by Heinrich Aldegrever, created in 1549.
Subject & Meaning
The print features a central mask with a wild beard, surrounded by swirling hair and clouds, and smaller faces with varied expressions. Tritons and children are depicted at the edges, amidst wavy lines evoking water or smoke. The imagery is dense and fantastical, suggesting a dreamlike or narrative quality.
Technique & Style
The print is characterized by a crowded, detailed style, with every area filled with intricate elements. The composition is complex and puzzle-like, contributing to its dynamic energy.
History & Provenance
The print is held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
