Artwork
Two Peasants Fighting
Two Peasants Fighting is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master of the Housebook. It dates from 1478 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1478, this drypoint print is attributed to the anonymous artist known as the Master of the Housebook. The image captures a moment of violent confrontation between two rural figures, rendered with the fine lines characteristic of the medium.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows two peasants locked in a physical struggle: one grasps the other’s head in a chokehold while the opponent strains to break free. Their modest attire—tunics and simple shirts and trousers—places the scene in a humble, agrarian context, emphasizing raw human conflict over any heroic narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed in drypoint, the artist incised the image directly onto a copper plate, producing burr‑rich lines that convey texture in the figures’ clothing and the surrounding terrain. The use of stark contrasts and careful shading creates depth in the rocky foreground and the sparse vegetation, lending a tactile quality to the scene.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to the late‑15th‑century corpus of prints associated with the Master of the Housebook, a prolific yet unidentified creator of German book illustrations and prints. Its dating to circa 1478 aligns with the artist’s known period of activity, and the piece has been recorded in several European collections of early printmaking.
Artist & collection
