German engraving
The collection of german engraving at the national library of Spain consists of some 600 picture books and some 600 prints. Come from the fifteenth, sixteenth and Seventeenth and many of them belong to the most important artists of that time: Martin Schongauer, Holtzmüller, David Kandel, Durero, Cranach Paintings, Holbein, Burgkmair, Woensam …
Because of its technical quality and diverse nature that reflect the political and cultural events that took place in europe over the Rebirth: the invention of printing, the popularization of the book as transmission of ideas, the political crisis and religious Reform brought the Luther, the geographical discoveries, etc.
The collection reflects the impact that the milestone took in the history of books and in particular in the history of the recorded: first of those techniques (engraved wood engraving in metal) and their evolution, new types of illustrations and ornaments, designs, portraits of relevant people and the influence that took in other european artists.
