Flask was painted by Georg Wechter I in 1556.

Where can I see Flask?

Flask is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Flask?

Flask is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Flask

Georg Wechter I , 1556

Flask is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Georg Wechter I. It dates from 1556 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Georg Wechter I’s 1556 work titled *Flask* is a small-scale print executed in the etching medium. The composition presents a single, ornamental vessel rendered in fine line work, occupying the entire field without any surrounding context. The piece exemplifies the meticulous draftsmanship typical of mid‑sixteenth‑century German printmaking.

Subject & Meaning

The central motif is a decorative flask, its surface covered with intricate scrolling and floral motifs. A chain loops from the neck to a stylized lid, suggesting both functional utility and ornamental display. The emphasis on elaborate surface pattern reflects contemporary interests in material culture and the aesthetic treatment of everyday objects.

Technique & Style

Wechter employed copper plate etching, incising lines that convey delicate texture and depth. The fine hatching creates tonal variation, while the crisp outlines define the intricate ornamentation. The style aligns with Renaissance decorative arts, combining linear precision with a penchant for elaborate, nature‑derived motifs.

History & Provenance

Created in 1556, the print originates from Wechter’s workshop in Nuremberg, a hub for print production during the German Renaissance. Surviving impressions are held in several European print collections, indicating the work’s circulation among collectors of decorative prints in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.