Israhel van Meckenem | Copper Engravings at Pinakothek der Moderne

Saturday, 09 September 2006 10:12

Munich, Germany - Israhel van Meckenem (around 1440/45–1503 in Bocholt) is one of the most important copper engravers of the 15^th century.  With an oeuvre of more than 500 plates to his name, Meckenem was by far the most productive master in the early period of copper engraving.  More than any other artist, he recognized the wide-reaching potential of this then novel technique.  It was one that opened up for the first time the possibility of offering an urban audience high quality pictures at affordable prices.

Meckenem‘s offerings included copies in the style of works created by leading artists of the time –such as the master E. S., Schongauer, Holbein the Elderor Dürer – and also his own images.  Religious scenes played a prominent role as did templates for goldsmiths and ornamental plates.  The most famous, though, are his Morris dancers and the genre-like »Scenes from everyday life«, in which he captures lovers and married couples in a charmingly humorous way.

Moving out of the late Middle Ages, Meckenem broke new ground: Shortly after the technology of reproducing pictures had been discovered he was quick to advocate technical innovation, favoring extending the art market to a new, bourgeois clientele and embracing the invention of reproduction graphics.  As the first publisher in this field, Israhel van Meckenem played a decisive part in shaping the new medium.

The exhibition shows the complete stock of Meckenem-works held by the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung Munich.  They provide a representative overview of the versality of the artist.  Contrasted with this are some of the famous originals that Meckenem used as a basis for his work.  Rounding off these exhibits are further precious and rare artworks.  Among them: the only known drawing by Israhel; his famous double self-portrait with his wife, the very first self-portrait produced in printed form; an extremely rare printing plate dating back to the 15^th century; and precious items of goldsmithery – such as those taken from the Amerbach-Kabinett in Basle that were based on designs by Meckenem and which document his impact on the art world.

Accompanying the exhibition is a catalogue with essays by Achim Riether, Christof Metzger and Lottlisa Behling (from the estate), 288 pages with 220 illustrations.  Curator: Achim Riether.

Visit the Pinakothek der Moderne at : http://www.pinakothek.de/presse/index.php