Burgkmair was an artist working in Augsburg, in Germany. He is considered to be the inventor of the new technique of chiaroscuro woodcut. This print is supposed to be the first chiaroscuro print ever produced. It had a propaganda function, to spread through the empire the image of the Emperor as a warrior.

Baldung Grien was an inventive painter and printmaker, famous for his mysterious images. This print represents a Sabbath where old and young witches are creating magic potions during a dark night.

Ugo was the first Italian artist using the technique of chiaroscuro. He worked using the drawings of Raphael and Parmigianino. This print shows how the Italian chiaroscuro prints were much more pictorial compared to the first German example. Diogenes was a cynical philosopher. He is represented here with some of his attributes: the barrel where he chose to live in absolute poverty and the chicken without feathers, symbolising his criticism of the metaphysical philosophy of Plato.

Beccafumi was a multitasking artist working in a variety of techniques. His chiaroscuro prints are both the most beautiful and the most expressive. This print belonged to a series representing the apostles. St. Philip is depicted as an heroic old man, with a strong body and a massive presence. For expressive reasons the artist deliberately left the image in a rough state, leaving visible the grains of the wood.

Goltzius was an Netherlandish artist, famous for his exuberant imagination and his spectacular compositions. The elegant body of Night is represented on a flying chariot pulled by bats. Goltzius was particularly famous for his erotic imagery and this print belongs to a series of gods and goddesses represented in sensual poses.

Renaissance Impressions: Chiaroscuro woodcuts from the Collections of Georg Baselitz and the Albertina, Vienna is at the RA until 8 June 2014.
Arturo Galansino is the co-curator of ‘Renaissance Impressions’.