“Schoolmaster” is a woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1510, which is held in the British Museum, London, UK. The piece is a fine example of the Northern Renaissance art movement and serves as an illustration genre work.
This particular woodcut, “Schoolmaster,” depicts a scene where a teacher stands to the left, holding a book and pointing with his right hand, apparently giving a lesson or instruction. Two students are focused on him intently, sitting on a bench. One student has his hand raised, possibly in question or answer to the teacher. The characters are dressed in clothing indicative of the early 16th century, the teacher with a hat indicative of his status. The composition is detailed, including a tree trunk, and a rural landscape in the background, evoking a setting that is both educational and rooted in its historical period. The artwork includes text at the top, likely in reference to the subject or moral of the illustration. The style is intricate and detailed, characteristic of Dürer’s precise woodcut technique.
