Erhard Schön

Erhard Schön was active in printmaking and textual instruction during the period 1500-1538. His surviving graphic and published works are represented in major institutions including the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

The known body of work represented in these collections totals seven items: six prints and one book. Among his most recognizable subjects are multiple depictions of the renowned artist Albrecht Dürer, documented under the titles Portrait of Dürer and Albrecht Dürer at Age Fifty-Six.

Schön also contributed to commemorative and historical projects, evidenced by the print Maximilian and Henry VII of England, plate 11 from Historical Scenes from the Life of Emperor Maximilian I from the Triumphal Arch. Beyond his printmaking, Schön is also represented by the instruction manual, Underweissung der Proportzion und stellung der possen.

The representation of these works across prominent institutions demonstrates the historical and technical importance of his surviving material, much of which is available as high-quality prints today, ensuring the public domain accessibility of his historical imagery. The continued study of these museum-quality works provides insight into early 16th-century German graphic arts.