The Bawd

Between 1623 and 1630, when he was in Paris, Ludolph Büsinck created woodcuts based on drawings by the artist Georges Lallemand (c. 1580–c. 1640) from Lorraine. This work calls to mind the Dutch artists who portrayed scenes of panderers and brothel life à la Caravaggio. Büsinck may have become familiar with the motifs and painting technique while training as an artist, presumably in Utrecht. The scene with a young couple and two elderly women in the background has been realized using the chiaroscuro technique. Büsinck made the only artistically significant German contribution to 17th century woodcutting. This work, acquired only recently, excellently complements Lambert Krahe’s collection of colour prints. (Sonja Brink)