Artwork
Der Artzet (The Physician)
Der Artzet (The Physician) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Lützelburger. It dates from 1526 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1526, Der Artzet (The Physician) is a woodcut print by the German cutter Hans Lützelburger. Renowned for his exacting skill in carving blocks, Lützelburger executed the image for another artist, contributing his technical expertise without providing the original design.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a physician holding a skull and gesturing toward a patient lying on a bed, while a child rests on the floor. A skeletal figure stands nearby, serving as a visual reminder of mortality, a common motif intended to underscore the fleeting nature of life.
Technique & Style
Cut from a single wood block, the image relies on strong contrasts of line and tone characteristic of early 16th‑century German printmaking. Lützelburger’s precise incisions render detailed interior elements—shelves with jars, a window revealing a church steeple—and the figures with clear, crisp outlines.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to a series of woodcuts Lützelburger produced for Hans Holbein the Younger, including the celebrated Dance of Death series. Lützelburger’s work on the series remained unfinished at his death in June 1526, after which the prints entered various collections, eventually appearing in museum holdings.
Context
In the early Reformation period, images that juxtaposed medical practice with skeletal symbols were employed to convey moral lessons about health, death, and the transience of earthly pursuits. The inclusion of a child and domestic setting reflects contemporary concerns about the vulnerability of families.
Legacy
Der Artzet exemplifies the collaborative nature of Renaissance print production, where master designers relied on expert cutters to realize their visions. The work continues to be studied for its technical proficiency and its role in the broader visual culture of mortality that shaped Northern European art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Lützelburger (died June 1526), also known as Hans Franck, was a German blockcutter ("formschneider") for woodcuts, regarded as one of the finest of his day.
