Family of Pigs c. 1480 - 1490

This “Family of Pigs,” was made by Martin Schongauer, a German artist, sometime before 1491. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a copper plate, which was then inked and printed. What is interesting is that this print was a luxury object, yet its imagery is rooted in the rural world. Look closely, and you’ll see the level of detail Schongauer was able to achieve through the process of engraving. Observe how he has modulated the lines to give a sense of the pigs' bristly hair, and the soft, rounded forms of the piglets. This was achieved through the precise and skilled manipulation of the engraving burin across the copper plate. The act of making this print can be seen as a form of craft, demanding a familiarity with the behaviour of materials. In the finished product, Schongauer unites this technical ability with his observation of nature. The pig was a familiar animal in the medieval world, but not one usually deemed worthy of artistic attention.