Artwork
The Milkmaid
The Milkmaid is a print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Milkmaid is a print created by Lucas van Leyden around 1510. It is a black-and-white work held in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a farm scene with a woman milking a cow and a man watching. The everyday scene is characteristic of genre painting, a style that focuses on ordinary life.
Technique & Style
The artist achieved a sense of depth through shading, particularly on the cows and the woman's apron. The sharp, detailed lines contribute to the scene's realism.
Context
The work reflects the emerging interest in genre painting among Dutch artists during the Renaissance, who drew inspiration from everyday life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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