Christoph Bockstorffer

Christoph Bockstorffer was a printmaker whose documented activity spans a concentrated period between 1526 and 1531. Known exclusively for his printed works, Bockstorffer produced engravings and woodcuts reflecting the historical, religious, and ornamental trends of 16th-century European art.

The works attributed to Bockstorffer include both ambitious historical pieces and functional decorative sequences. His surviving output demonstrates an engagement with significant political figures, represented by the print Emperors Charles V and Ferdinand I, alongside traditional biblical narratives, such as David playing the harp before Saul. Bockstorffer also produced series focused on ornamental design, exemplified by the repeated documentation of the sequence known as Frieze with children.

Nine Christoph Bockstorffer prints are currently represented in museum collections, confirming his role in the era's printmaking output. Provenance for his work is established through holdings at institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, the details of his precise location and artistic training remain limited, but the surviving examples offer valuable insight into Central European graphic arts of the period. The historical importance of these original plates means that high-quality prints and downloadable artwork often represent the primary mode of engagement with his work outside of specialized archives.