One of the Foolish Virgins

In print-circles, the Swiss goldsmith, painter, printmaker and also mercenary is best known and admired for his innovative white-line woodcuts and often slightly devious subjects. The present rare print is a reversed copy of Martin Schongauer's earlier engraving of the same subject (Lehrs 86). Graf was one the most prominent and prolific artists of the Swiss Renaissance, and a contemporary of Albrecht Dürer. The prints by Schongauer, who belonged to the previous generation and had lived not far from Switzerland, in Alsace, was the natural choice for a young artist to turn to for inspiration. Despite being a copy, Graf's version betrays his own eccentric style, especially in the woman's facial expression and the more intense shading.
Despite his considerable oeuvre, his prints seem to have been produced in small editions only and are very rare.
The present sheet was once in the collection of Dr Albert Blum, one of the most eminent print collectors of the 20th century.