Dürer's woodcuts and engravings

Durer was not only a great painter but also a great printmaker, specializing in woodcuts and engravings.

• woodcuts were popular in the late 1400s and early 1500s due to their labor-intensive process but ability to produce multiple copies.
• woodcuts involve carving away what is not wanted to be printed, limiting fine lines and details.
• engravings, on the other hand, allow for finer lines and details as the lines made on the metal plate are what appear on the paper.
• engravings require high pressure in the printing press, resulting in fewer good prints compared to woodcuts and making them more expensive.
• "Saint Jerome in His Study" by Durer showcases the effects of light and shadow, texture, detail, and one-point perspective influenced by both northern European and Italian art.
• Durer's mastery of perspective can be attributed to his travels to Italy in the 1480s.

Creators/Contributors

• Durer
• Beth Harris
• David Drogin