Naakte vrouw met hond 1510

Lucas van Leyden created this print, Naakte vrouw met hond, using etching and engraving techniques sometime around 1510. The image depicts a nude woman seated beneath a tree, tenderly examining a dog’s head. Such imagery participates in the Northern Renaissance humanist exploration of classical themes. The work also reflects the importance of printmaking in the early 16th century as a means of disseminating ideas and artistic styles. Consider how the intimate scale of the print and the directness of the etching technique contribute to the work's overall impact. Prints like these also circulated within a specific social context. Religious reformers in the Netherlands were beginning to question the role of images in religious practice. The choice of subject matter also reflects changing attitudes toward the human body and its representation in art. Careful examination of the archives can reveal much more about the place of such images in the culture of the time.