Movement guide

Northern Renaissance

15th–16th century

Representative Northern Renaissance artwork — Representative work from the Explainary collection.

Detail from a Northern Renaissance artwork — Detail crop for texture and technique.

A Northern European Renaissance known for detail, symbolism, and mastery of printmaking.

What defines it

Meticulous surface detail
Symbolic imagery
Growth of prints as art

Techniques and innovations

Engraving and woodcut as high art
Prints as wide-reaching cultural media

Key artists

Key works in Explainary