JF Ptak Science Books   Quick Post

The “thing” about Urs Graf’s art, for me, is the utter humanness of many of his figures–many of them, even the significant characters in his works, have a certain unexpected everyday quality to them, a common touch, right down to unruly Homer Simpson hairs on bald men, disciples or not.  

This is a detail from Graf’s (1485-1527/9) Passionis Christi... which was printed in 1506, the date of which makes Graf’s achievement even more remarkable.  

From Grove Art Online: Urs Graf  (b Solothurn, c. 1485; d ?Basle, 1527–9).

“Swiss draughtsman, goldsmith, die-cutter, engraver, woodcut and stained-glass designer,painter and glass painter. He was the most original and gifted artist of the early Renaissance in German-speaking Switzerland. His highly imaginative drawings, created as independent works of art, are works of exceptional quality, vitality, expressiveness and often humour. For northern European art, Graf played an important role in the liberation of drawing from its traditionally subsidiary status as preparatory study for works of art in other media.”

Here’s the full version of the print, showing the Last Supper and Christ washing the feet of the Disciples: