Israhel van Meckenem

A very good impression of this extremely scarce engraving, printing with fine contrasts and light plate tone. This rare late 15th-century print offers a compelling glimpse into domestic life, depicting a nude woman washing a child who bends over her knees, while six boys play in a large vat of water to the left. A blank scroll above suggests an original intention for inscription, now left intriguingly open. Executed in the late Gothic style, the work stands out for its naturalistic detail and sensitive portrayal of childhood—subjects seldom explored with such intimacy in printmaking of the period. The careful composition balances tender care with lively play, reflecting contemporary shifts towards realism and humanism in Northern European art. As a third state, this print is desirable for its refined detail and historical significance, exemplifying early developments in the portrayal of everyday life. Trimmed just inside the plate mark. The paper slightly time-stained. Verso with isolated paper thinning, as well as remnants and traces of former mounting, otherwise in good condition.