Jost Amman’s woodcut, “The Tanner”, 1568

Jost Amman (aka Jost Ammon) (1539–1591)

“The Tanner” (aka “Der Gerber”), 1568, woodcut illustration to Hans Sachs’ (1494–1576) “Eygentliche Beschreibung Aller Stände auff Erden” (Actual description of all classes on earth) and to Hartman Schoppper’s (1542–[after] 1595) “Panoplia omnivm illiberalivm mechanicarvm ...” (aka “Book of Trades”; “A Panoply of all practical mechanical or sedentary trades which were ever devised by the ancients or by various men of our time, briefly and clearly set forth.”). Both publications were published in Frankfurt am Main in 1568 by Sigmund Feyerabend (aka Sigismund Feyrabend; Sigmund Feierabend) (1528–1590).

Woodcut on fine laid paper, trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 8.3 x 6.5 cm; (plate) 8 x 6.1 cm.

TIB 20.8.100 (Jane S Peters [ed.] 1985, “The Illustrated Bartsch: German Masters of the Sixteenth Century: Jost Amman: Woodcuts, continued”, vol. 20, Part 2, New York, Abaris Books, p. 692, cat. no. 8.100 [371]); New Hollstein 51.100.

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1904-0206-103-99.

Condition: a strong and well-printed early/lifetime impression (based on the impression showing no signs of wear to the printing plate). Beyond a restored nick to the margin at the lower left corner and a small hole above the worker on the left, the sheet in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears or significant stains.

I am selling this woodcut of outstanding quality showing the tanning process in a stream with tanner at work scraping a hide that has been prepared by another worker further away—note the cow hide with its horned head and long tail still attached draped over a beam at right suggesting that it’s leather being processed—for AU $268 in total (currently/approximately US $177.55/ EUR 164.89/ GBP 141.22 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $268) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing German woodcut from the late Renaissance, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold