|
The unusual depiction of a quarry, a masterpiece in watercolour, is generally dated to 1506. Dürer captured this section of a rock formation, and placed it centrally and independently on the sheet. The artist's main interest here was not merely to depict the subject of the picture and its bizarre appearance, but to put the possibilities of the watercolour technique to the test. Starting with precise miniature painting, via the glazes of light brushstrokes to broad sweeps of the brush, Dürer made virtuoso use of the entire spectrum of techniques offered by watercolour in this study sheet. The colour range is based on brown tones with an incredible range of nuances, creating the impression that Dürer wanted to try out the entire scope of his ability in this small masterpiece.
|
