Hopfer, Daniel (1471-1536). — Eva./ Eve.

Etching in black ink on cream paper, 28,7 x 11 cm. plate inscription "DH" in the lower margin and numbered “2” in the image in the lower left corner, second state (of 2), Germany, 17th cent., published by David Funck. = Very good impression of this rare engraving. Cut on or just inside the platemark. Small restoration in lower right corner. Daniel Hopfer was a German engraver in the mannerist style. He is considered the first to use etching as an engraving technique, before the 1500, before Dürer. This engraving of Eve is a clear example of the mannerist style: the muscles of the chest and abdomen are exaggerated, following the medieval tradition of representing the body. Although Hopfer includes images of the apple, the main emphasis in this engraving is on Eve's inner repentance rather than her original sin. However, the angel wielding the sword in the clouds above Eve's head makes it clear that everything has been disturbed in the Garden of Eden (Brianne Munch (2018)). Daniel Hopfer, son of the painter Bartholomaus Hopfer, was born in 1471. As a young man, Hopfer worked as an armorer in Augsburg, Germany, where he honed the skill of engraving on iron, which allowed him to expand his artistic practice to engraving. One hundred and forty-five engravings are attributed to Hopfer, who also designed woodcuts and engravings for book illustrations. In the 17th century, 230 Hopfer printing plates were acquired and reprinted by the publisher David Funck. Funck's edition can be identified by the inscribed numbers in the lower left corners of the images.