Martin Schongauer

A superb, brilliant, very early impression, with strong burr and the inked lines in high relief. Trimmed 4 mm at left,, 6 mm at right and 1 mm at the top edge. Lehrs mentions only about 40 known copies. The present engraving of the Nativity is a striking example of Schongauer’s style and technical mastery as a printmaker. The virgin, shown adoring the newborn child, is serenely self-contained, yet the dynamic folds of her cloak and the delicate tension in her hands convey an emotional and devotional intensity characteristic of the finest late Gothic art. Although the composition is pared down to the essential elements of the Nativity scene, Schongauer’s skill as an engraver is evident in his disciplined and varied use of graphic marks: the long, curved lines of the straw beneath the Child, the dense cross-hatching of the background wall, and the subtle shading of the Virgin’s face. His handling of the burin displays a command of the medium unmatched by any of the anonymous masters who came before him. The lower edge slightly unevenly cut. Paper lightly time stained and with restorations. The lower edge filled in with light grey brushstrokes. Otherwise in good condition. One of the most significant works from Schongauer's graphic oeuvre. Like the other square sheets, it dates from the artist's early mature period and is one of the most important engravings in the entire graphic art of the 15th century.