Goatherd in a Thunderstorm
1923
Medium
engraving in black on japan paper
Dimensions
plate: 33.9 × 25.5 cm (13 3/8 × 10 1/16 in.) sheet: 37.8 × 28.5 cm (14 7/8 × 11 1/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Christopher and Beverly With in memory of Karl and Gerda With
Accession Number
2012.119.17
Art Historical Context
In the turbulent atmosphere of 1923 Weimar Germany, Otto Rodewald *Goatherd in a Thunderstorm a striking black engraving on delicate japan paper. This intimate print, measuring 33.9 × 25.5 cm on the plate, captures a solitary figure amid nature's fury—a timeless motif of human resilience against elemental chaos. Rodewald, a skilled German printmaker, employs the meticulous intaglio technique of engraving, where fine lines are incised into a metal plate, inked, and pressed to create rich, velvety contrasts ideal for dramatic scenes. Japan paper, prized for its absorbency and subtle texture, en...