Carpenter
1520–1530
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 15/16 × 1 11/16 in. (5 × 4.3 cm) Plate: 1 7/16 × 1 3/16 in. (3.6 × 3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Felix M. Warburg, 1920
Accession Number
20.64.14
Tags
Art Historical Context
Albrecht Altdorfer’s *Carpenter*, created between 1520 and 1530, offers a vivid glimpse into everyday life during the Northern Renaissance. As a leading figure of the Danube School, Altdorfer was celebrated for his ability to infuse even the smallest works with remarkable detail and atmosphere. This tiny engraving, measuring just under two inches, depicts a male figure engaged in his trade, reflecting the period’s growing interest in portraying ordinary workers alongside grand religious or mythological themes. The medium of engraving allowed artists like Altdorfer to reach broader audiences t...
About the Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer · 1475–1538
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and draftsman who stands as one of the founders of landscape painting as an independent genre. Born in Regensburg or nearby Altdorf, he learned art from his father Ulrich, a painter and miniaturist. Altdorfer spent most of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505 and later serving as the city's official architect and a m...