Jael and Sisera - Albrecht Altdorfer

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Potter Palmer

"Jael and Sisera" by Albrecht Altdorfer (1520/25) Woodcut in black on ivory laid paper.

Commentary

"Jael and Sisera" by Albrecht Altdorfer (1520/25) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The print-based method rewards close viewing, where line, texture, and contrast do most of the expressive wor k. Themes to notice include wood engraving. This piece is held in the source collection's Prints and Drawings collection. Albrecht Altdorfer is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Albrecht Altdorfer German, c. The work is cataloged within a Germany cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as wood engraving, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Woodcut in black on ivory laid paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Image/block: 7.2 × 4.8 cm (2 7/8 × 1 15/16 in.); Sheet: 12.3 × 9.5 cm (4 7/8 × 3 3/4 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include wood engraving. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/110642

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data