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The Ill-Assorted Couple

A work made of engraving in black on ivory laid paper.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of engraving in black on ivory laid paper.

Date:

c. 1496

Artist:

Albrecht Dürer
German, 1471-1528

About this artwork

The intersection of commerce with the seamy side of love inspired this secular Dürer engraving. The title refers to the difference in age between two would-be lovers, here seated outside in an intentionally isolated spot. In this popular Renaissance genre, lascivious elderly men attempt to grope beautiful courtesans who hold out for a second purse or steal the rest of their conquest’s belongings. Alternately, toothless crones stroke young men who hope to inherit everything on becoming widowers. Love is on offer to the highest bidder in a mercenary transaction that is anything but courtly.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Albrecht Dürer

Title

The Ill-Assorted Couple

Place

Germany (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1491–1501

Medium

Engraving in black on ivory laid paper

Dimensions

Image/plate: 14.9 × 13.8 cm (5 7/8 × 5 7/16 in.); Sheet: 15 × 13.9 cm (5 15/16 × 5 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

The Joseph Brooks Fair Collection

Reference Number

1940.60

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/36748/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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