Boy Stepping to the Right over Banderoles 1515 - 1540

This tiny print, Boy Stepping to the Right over Banderoles, was made by the German artist Barthel Beham, probably in the 1520s, using a technique called engraving. The first step would have been to meticulously carve an image into a small copper plate with a tool called a burin. The plate would then be inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Finally, damp paper was laid on the plate, and run through a printing press, transferring the ink to the paper. As you can see, Beham really knew his stuff: the image is incredibly crisp and precise. Though small in scale, this print shows Beham’s mastery of line and form, typical of the Northern Renaissance. It exemplifies a time when printmaking was not just a means of reproduction, but a highly valued skill, bridging the gap between craft and fine art.