View of an Old Town with a Church and High Gabled Houses 1775 - 1850

This delicate line engraving of an old town with a church, was made by Johann Gottfried Schadow, and presents a different view from his more well-known sculptures. With this print, Schadow used an established printmaking technique. The fine lines incised into the metal plate, create the image when the plate is inked and printed onto paper. The marks left by the artist's hand show a keen eye for detail, while the nature of engraving lends the scene a formal, architectural quality. Considered in relation to Schadow's sculptures, this print reveals a different aspect of his artistry and shows that he engaged with a variety of creative practices, blurring the lines between fine art and craft. It also allows us to reflect on how various modes of production and aesthetic traditions influence an artist’s work, no matter the medium.