Artwork
Farmer and Wife with Goose
Farmer and Wife with Goose is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Wenzel von Olmutz. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Their attire and demeanor suggest everyday peasantry, rendered with a subtle, slightly ambiguous expression.
Wenzel von Olmutz’s engraving titled *Farmer and Wife with Goose* dates to around 1490. Executed as a copperplate print, the work presents a rural couple standing in an open landscape. The left figure holds a staff and a small bag, while the right figure cradles a goose and carries a basket. Their attire and demeanor suggest everyday peasantry, rendered with a subtle, slightly ambiguous expression.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a moment of agrarian life, emphasizing the relationship between the couple and their domestic animal. The goose, a common source of food and income, serves as a focal point that underscores the household’s livelihood. The figures’ slightly exaggerated gestures hint at a narrative beyond mere representation, perhaps alluding to a folk tale or a moment of private humor.
Technique & Style
Created through traditional engraving, the image is incised into a metal plate with a burin, allowing for fine, parallel lines. Von Olmutz employs dense cross‑hatching to model volume and convey the texture of clothing, the goose’s feathers, and the surrounding field. The linear precision and controlled shading reflect the Northern Renaissance’s interest in detailed surface rendering.
Context
The print belongs to a period when portable images circulated widely, providing visual access to rural themes for urban audiences. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work is attributed to von Olmutz based on stylistic comparison with his other late‑15th‑century prints. It survives in several museum collections, illustrating the spread of engraved media before the advent of print photography.
Artist & collection
