Who painted Red Squirrel?

Red Squirrel was painted by Hans Hoffmann in 1578.

Where can I see Red Squirrel?

Red Squirrel is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Red Squirrel?

Red Squirrel is associated with Renaissance.

Red Squirrel by Hans Hoffmann (1578) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

The colors are warm—soft browns and reddish tones—with a pale background that keeps the focus on the squirrel.

This is a close-up of a red squirrel, drawn with careful attention to its fur and tiny paws. The animal’s bushy tail flares out behind it, and its front paw rests lightly on the page. The colors are warm—soft browns and reddish tones—with a pale background that keeps the focus on the squirrel.

The artist used a mix of watercolor and a thicker paint called gouache to build up the fur’s texture. The date *1578* is written in the corner, showing this was made over 400 years ago.

Next, look up technique: watercolor, glazing to see how artists layer thin, see-through paint to create depth.

Overview

Red Squirrel, created in 1578 by Hans Hoffmann, is a watercolor and gouache drawing on parchment, exemplifying the artist's meticulous nature studies during the Dürer Renaissance.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on a red squirrel, depicted in close-up with intricate attention to fur, paws, and tail, reflecting Hoffmann's specialization in detailed botanical and animal illustrations, often influenced by or replicating Albrecht Dürer's works.

Technique & Style

Hoffmann employed a combination of watercolor for transparency and gouache for opacity to achieve textured fur. The warm, subdued color palette (soft browns, reddish tones) against a pale background emphasizes the subject, characteristic of Hoffmann's precise and detailed style.

History & Provenance

Dated 1578, Red Squirrel is a product of the late 16th century, attributed to Hans Hoffmann, a key figure in the Dürer Renaissance. The piece's provenance is not detailed here, but its creation date and materials signify its age and craftsmanship.

Context

This work aligns with the Dürer Renaissance, a period seeing a revival of interest in Albrecht Dürer's naturalistic and detailed artistic approaches. Hoffmann's piece, with its careful rendering, fits within this revival's emphasis on precise nature studies.

Legacy

As part of Hoffmann's oeuvre, Red Squirrel contributes to the broader legacy of the Dürer Renaissance, influencing subsequent generations in their approach to detailed natural history illustrations. Its survival over 400 years attests to the enduring quality of Hoffmann's craft.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hans Hoffmann

Hans Hoffmann (c. 1530 in Nuremberg – 1591/92 in Prague) was a German painter and draftsman. A leading representative of the Dürer Renaissance, he specialised in watercolor and gouache nature studies, many of them…