Public domain
Thistle ornament
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
A unique, wonderfully preserved impression of an engraving by Master W with the Key, who worked in Bruges between ca. 1465 and 1490. It is a thistle ornament in which the artist explored the possibilities of capturing the growth power and capriciousness of the plant. Since he applied the technique rather stiffly compared to his later sheets, this is probably one of the earliest prints by the master; one almost has the sensation of witnessing the birth of the copper engraving.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineDistelornament. 1465 - 1485. Meester W met de Sleutel. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
