Knight 1512 - 1515

Editor: This is Albrecht Altdorfer’s "Knight", made around 1512 to 1515. It's an engraving on paper. I'm struck by how rigid the knight seems, yet there's a real delicacy in the details, particularly the textures and in the cross-hatching used to build up tones. What do you make of this composition, considering the limited palette of black and white? Curator: The restriction to monochrome invites us to consider Altdorfer's mastery of line and tone. Observe how he uses varied densities of hatching to model the knight’s form and create a sense of volume. Where does your eye first land when viewing the composition? Editor: I'd say my eye is drawn to the knight’s helmet, mostly because of all the fluffy plumes, then down the body of the knight. It makes him look almost too…delicate, like he couldn't possibly withstand the battles armor is meant for. Curator: Indeed, the figure seems somewhat constrained, which could be seen as a formal commentary on the conventions of knighthood itself. Does the orientation of his body communicate to you a readiness to engage, or perhaps a more symbolic bearing? Editor: More symbolic I think, based on the way he's posed. Almost like an allegorical figure instead of an action shot. Plus the lack of expression makes the Knight difficult to 'read'. Curator: Precisely. It lacks narrative thrust; the engraving transcends the straightforward depiction, evolving into a potent emblem open to varied interpretations based on formal qualities such as pose, shading, texture, line. Editor: So the visual execution is, in itself, a statement? It’s impressive how much the artist conveys simply with composition. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. Considering purely its arrangement of visual forms, the "Knight" provokes contemplation beyond its literal subject matter.