Albrect Dürer’s pieces The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (pg. 684), and Adam and Eve (pg. 684) are both pieces that have a great deal of Italianate features, and northern European traditional features. There is northern influence seen in both pieces is the large amount of texture and lines used to create the two pieces, they also both have a fair amount of naturalism. The Italianate features of these pieces include the properties that these pieces were made of- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a woodcut and Adam and Eve is an engraving, and the Adam and Eve engraving also alludes to the educational favor that there was in the Italianate time period.
Northern influence is seen on both of these pieces with the detailed texture that each has. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse being a woodcut has many lines within the wood. Dürer most likely hired a skilled carpenter to do the cutting. But you can see the shadows and highlights are very obvious with the lines used. There are many condensed line in the shadows, and less condensed, if any line at all, for the highlighted areas of the piece. The naturalism in this woodcut is seen through the detail that was implemented onto the wood. Details on the faces, clothes, and horses make them look realistic; as realistic as you can with only cutting out wood. Italian influence on this peace is most obvious with just the material used, wood. But there is also a feel of a chaotic scene. Similar to many of the paintings we saw in chapter 20 on 16th art in Italy, specifically Pontormo’s Entombment (pg. 661), mannerism seems to be in this woodcut. Horses are placed where typically horses would not be in a stampede of some sort. Some look as if they are running in the air. I just felt this seemed to portray a bit of mannerism.
The Adam and Eve engraving have northern influence because it shows a lot of texture all throughout the piece. The skin of the people, trees, ground, hair, and animals all have textures. The technique from northern Europe is used. Lines, and cross hatching are very apparent. You see as with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the lines in Adam and Eve also show highlights and shadows. This piece also has a lot of naturalism to it and detail, which would also be a lot of northern influence. The detail in their bodies, the tree and the animals are very realistic, having correct proportions and shadowing. The Italian influence that is in this piece is very apparent with the material being used. Dürer carved this piece from metal plates. You can also see Dürer is embracing the gift and importance of education. You can see the sign which is written some language… I unfortunately am not sure what one, but I feel it still embraces how important education was to Dürer, and how he flaunted his own education.
I can see what you are saying about how the style of "Four Horsemen" is Mannerist, in a way. I just want to point out, though, that the "Four Horsemen" was created about 1497-1498 (before the Mannerist movement started about 1520). Although I think that your opinion is justified, based on visual elements, I wanted to point out that there isn't much of a historical connection between this print and Mannerism.
ReplyDelete-Prof. Bowen
I enjoy how you point towards the emphasis on wood as a medium during this time in art. The use of such an organic material shows so strongly some of the messages and goals of the artists. Also, though Dürer most likely did not carve his wood pieces himself, one can see by the extreme use of highlights and shadows that you noted how much involvement Dürer would have had with his work even through the production phase.
ReplyDelete