Urs Graf
Urs Graf (c. 1485 in
Solothurn,
Switzerland – possibly before 13 October 1528) was a
Swiss Renaissance goldsmith,
painter and
printmaker (of
woodcuts,
etchings and
engravings), as well as a
Swiss mercenary. He only produced two etchings, one of which dates from 1513 – the earliest known etching for which a date has been established. However, his woodcuts are considered of greater significance, particularly as he is attributed with the invention of the white-line woodcut technique, where white lines create the image on a black background. He also produced a few engravings, including copies of works by
Martin Schongauer and
Albrecht Dürer. He produced innovative drawings intended as finished works of art rather than just studies.
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