Badende nimfen
in or after 1605
Medium
chiaroscuro woodcut
Dimensions
202; 298
About this artwork
height 298 mm x width 202 mm
Art Historical Context
Ugo da Carpi’s *Badende nimfen* (Bathing Nymphs) is a striking example of the chiaroscuro woodcut, a technique the Italian printmaker helped pioneer in the early sixteenth century. Measuring 298 by 202 millimetres, the print uses multiple carved blocks inked in different tones to mimic the effects of light and shadow usually reserved for drawings. The subject—nymphs at their bath—draws on classical mythology, a favourite theme among Renaissance artists who sought to revive the grace and harmony of ancient art. Although dated after 1605, the work reflects the innovative spirit of Ugo’s earlier...
About the Artist
Ugo da Carpi · 1480–1535
Comment on works: Painter; Woodcutter