ALBRECHT DÜRER The Ravisher, or a Young Woman Attacked by Death.
Engraving, circa 1495. 114x102mm; 4 1/2x4 inches. A very good, dark and well-inked Meder c impression of this scarce, early engraving with strong contrasts. With thread margins or trimmed on the plate mark.
This is very likely only Dürer's (1471-1528) second attempt at producing an engraving for the then rapidly-expanding European prints market. According to Bartrum, "Dürer (1471-1528) made this engraving soon after opening his own workshop in 1495. The small size, the use of the banderole on which inscriptions could be made to inform the onlooker, and the traditional fifteenth century theme of Death make it clear that the artist wished to adhere to well-known formulas for this early attempt in the technique," (Albrecht Dürer and his Legacy, London, 2002, page 110). Bartsch 44; Meder 42.
