Saint George with the Princess and the Slain Dragon, Hans Burgkmair (I), 1508

Saint George with the Princess and the Slain Dragon, Hans Burgkmair (I), 1508

chiaroscuro woodcut, h 323mm × w 231mm More details

This scene of Saint George and the dragon is the earliest known chiaroscuro woodcut. The design in black is printed with a line block, and the green areas with a tone block in which the light passages have been cut out. This spectacular print was signed by Hans Burgkmair from Augsburg and the block-cutter Jost de Negker from Antwerp. Which of the two artists conceived the idea of using a tone block is unknown.