Artwork
Ein Frau war lannge Zeit ...
Ein Frau war lannge Zeit ... is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master of the Miracles of Mariazell. It dates from 1503 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1503, this woodcut on laid paper is attributed to the anonymous workshop known as the Master of the Miracles of Mariazell. The print presents a densely composed forest setting, dominated by a small gathering of figures near the centre, a fallen individual, and a distant church tower silhouetted against a turbulent sky.
Subject & Meaning
The accompanying German inscription identifies a woman afflicted by illness, suggesting the scene functions as a visual meditation on suffering and divine intercession. The clustered figures appear to be attending to the ailing woman, while the looming tower may symbolize the church’s role as a place of refuge and healing amidst the chaotic natural backdrop.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the image relies on sharply incised lines that generate a sense of movement and tension. The artist employs dense hatching to render foliage and clouds, while the stark contrast between dark foreground and lighter background heightens the dramatic intensity typical of early sixteenth‑century German printmaking.
History & Provenance
The work is catalogued under the name of the Master of the Miracles of Mariazell, a notname assigned to an anonymous group active in the Alpine region during the turn of the sixteenth century. Though the original ownership record is unclear, the print has been documented in several European collections since the nineteenth century, reflecting its continued scholarly interest.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Miracles of Mariazell
Master of the Miracles of Mariazell (1500–1503) was an artist.
