Download Unit I: The Renaissance, Albrecht Durer and the Print

Unit I: The Renaissance, Albrecht Durer and the Print
Albrecht Durer –
Artist
Lived during the late 1400 – early 1500’s
German
Renaissance
Printmaker (primarily), also a painter
By age 27 - famous, wealthy, successful
Father didn’t want him to be an artist…
he wanted him to join the family business: as a goldsmith
Traveled to Italy to study art
The Renaissance –
A period in world history taking place during the 15th and 16th century
Importance of the Renaissance: a time of renewed interest in learning, ART, and science
Inventions/innovations of the time: printing press, inexpensive paper - these
items would have been very helpful to a graphic artist (printmaker) : they would have
enabled him to make more work quicker and cheaper than before…which means he can
sell more and make more money
Other important Renaissance artists: Leonardo di Vinci, Michelangelo
Melencolia I –
An intaglio print
By Albrecht Durer
Depicting a very sad/overwhelmed angel
Printmaking –
Defined:
Process of creating multiple artistic images from a single master plate
2 types discussed in class: Intaglio, Relief
Intaglio – Process of printing what is cut away; examples: Etching, Engraving (process by which
U.S. paper currency is made)
Relief – Process of printing what is raised up; examples: Woodcuts, Linoleum (process
completed in class)
Relief Printmaking Process: 1.Draw 2. Transfer 3.Cut 4. Ink 5.Print
Difference between painting and printmaking…the cost, the time, the effort, and availability
Art Element: Line
3 Types of lines:
Searching – A quick sketch line, often used in figure drawing. Example:
Used to:
1. Get a quick idea of the subject’s form
2. Make sure the size of the drawing fits the picture plane
Contour - An outline. Example:
Modeling – A line with substance. Example:
Three Techniques for giving a line substance:
Hatching – Parallel lines that give a line substance Example:
Cross-hatching – Criss-cross lines that give a line substance. Example:
Scribbling – Multi-directional lines that give a line substance. Example: