Artwork
Les divers pourtraicts et figures VIII
Les divers pourtraicts et figures VIII is an ink print by the Baroque artist Master AD. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Les divers pourtraicts et figures VIII is an early‑17th‑century engraving attributed to the anonymous printmaker known as Master AD. Executed around 1600, the work measures roughly the size of a typical sheet of paper and is rendered entirely in black ink.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents four robust, partially nude figures in dynamic stances, each braced against a structural element such as a pillar or wall. Their muscular forms dominate the scene, while modest props—a hammer, a cup and a bucket—lie at their feet, hinting at a narrative of labor or mythic activity.
Technique & Style
Master AD employs dense cross‑hatching to model volume and suggest chiaroscuro, creating a sense of depth on a flat surface. The background is reduced to simple arches and columns, allowing the intricate line work on the bodies to remain the visual focus.
History & Provenance
The print is catalogued among a series of works signed only with the monogram “AD,” a designation used for several anonymous engravers active in the Low Countries at the turn of the 17th century. Its provenance traces through several European collections before entering a museum holding of early modern prints.
Context
Produced during a period when printmaking disseminated classical and allegorical motifs, the engraving reflects contemporary interest in the idealized male form and the study of anatomy. Such images often served both decorative and instructional purposes for artists and patrons.
Artist & collection
