Two Children Playing with a Ball 1500 - 1546

"Two Children Playing with a Ball," a pen and ink drawing by Peter Flötner, captures the playful innocence of childhood. The scene depicts two nude children, one holding a ball, the other reaching with a raised hand, against a backdrop of stylized landscape features. Flötner’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in the delicate hatching that creates the texture of the ground and the flowing lines that depict the water. This intimate depiction of children engaging in a simple game highlights the artist's interest in capturing the everyday moments of life. This drawing, which dates from 1500-1546, exemplifies Flötner's mastery of the Renaissance style. It is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.