Portrait of Burghart Engelberg, master-builder at Augsburg 1514 - 1515

This is an anonymous portrait of Burghart Engelberg, master-builder at Augsburg, made in pen and ink on paper. Here, the linear quality of ink is used to create form, texture, and depth. The hatching technique - layering fine, parallel lines - is particularly evident in the rendering of Engelberg's fur hat. Notice how the density and direction of the lines convincingly suggest the soft texture of the fur. The choice of ink as a medium, with its directness and relative permanence, speaks to the intent behind this portrait. As a master-builder, Engelberg oversaw complex projects, and pen and ink – the medium of accounting and architectural drawing – would have been very familiar to him. The creation of this drawing underscores the cultural significance of craft and building trades in early modern Europe. It highlights the skilled labor and artistic traditions that elevated master builders like Engelberg to respected positions within their communities, blurring the lines between craft, profession, and art.