1. Albrecht Dürer
(1471-1528)

Peasant Couple Dancing

(click on image to print)
Dürer, Peasant Couple Dancing

Peasant Couple Dancing

Engraving, 1514, 115x 73 mm., Bartsch 90, Meder 88 b (of e). Fine, strong impression on laid paper trimmed just within the plate mark, the composition complete; old glue stains verso and the very tip of the upper left corner made up (blank paper). The impression appears to be stronger than the British Museum impression illustrated in The Illustrated Bartsch, but not quite as fine as the Yale University impression illustrated in Dürer in America. Observers will notice the rather strong resemblance between this image and that of one of the Hans Sebald Beham prints, also offered here. Beham was one of Dürer’s students and assistants and it was hardly uncommon, particularly in the 16th century, for a pupil to lift an idea from his master. Dürer, of course, shows more details – the worn sole on the peasant’s shoe with his toes coming through, the raggedness of his clothing – but in addition gives us, in the faces, hints of individual personalities.