Illustration to Hesiod
1949
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
wood engraving [trial proof]
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.17.403
Art Historical Context
Imre Reiner's *Illustration to Hesiod* (1949) is a masterful wood engraving trial proof, showcasing the Hungarian-British artist's precision and finesse in a technique revered for its crisp lines and tonal depth. Created on the end-grain of boxwood, wood engraving allowed Reiner to carve intricate details with burin tools, producing images suitable for high-quality book illustrations. This trial proof—an experimental print before final approval—offers a rare glimpse into the artist's iterative process, highlighting adjustments in contrast and composition. The work draws inspiration from Hesio...
About the Artist
Imre Reiner
**Imre Reiner** (1900–1987) was a Hungarian-born Swiss painter, graphic artist, typographer, and master illustrator whose multifaceted career bridged sculpture, experimental typography, and exquisite wood engravings. Born on August 18, 1900, in Versec (now Vršac, Serbia) to a Jewish family—his father a sculptor and stone carver who apprenticed him young—Reiner began formal studies at age 15 in scu...