Small Motifs of Insects and Plants

Georg Herman

1596 · Blackwork and engraving · Drawings and Prints

This small print shows a somewhat random collection of various insects, plants, a snail and a turtle. Motifs like these could be used individually as (engraved) decoration on all kinds of objects. The print is part of a series of eight done by Georg Herman. Georg was the son of Stephan Herman, a goldsmith, printmaker and publisher working in Ansbach between 1568 and 1596. Because he signed most of his prints, we know that he made most of them between the ages of 15 and 24. The current series dates from 1596 when the artist was 16 years of age. Although he is thought to have been active as a goldsmith, other than his prints no pieces by his hand are known to have survived.

Artist

Georg Herman

Date

1596

Medium

Blackwork and engraving

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1942