The Little Courier c. 1496
albrechtdurer
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, engraving
germany
pen sketch
sketch book
cartoon sketch
personal sketchbook
sketchwork
ink drawing experimentation
pen-ink sketch
sketchbook drawing
storyboard and sketchbook work
sketchbook art
engraving
"The Little Courier," a wood engraving by Albrecht Durer, depicts a rider on horseback galloping through a landscape. The rider, clad in armor, holds a letter in his hand, suggesting his role as a courier. Durer's masterful use of line and detail creates a dynamic and engaging scene. This piece is characteristic of Durer's early work, showcasing his skill in representing the natural world and capturing movement. Created around 1496, this small-scale engraving demonstrates the artist's fascination with perspective and his ability to depict the human figure with anatomical accuracy.
Comments
This tiny engraving treats a theme related to the large woodcut, Knight on Horseback and the Lansquenet (see 2016.108.2) that Albrect Dürer made about the same time. Here a gallant young messenger brandishes his whip to speed along a country road. His fashionable, tailored clothes tell us he is well paid for his services, and the fluttering plume in his fur cap tells us he hopes the girls will notice.
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