Melchior Lorck

Melchior Lorck's works are fascinating. They have a special seductive quality not unlike contemporary advertisements. We are captivated by their well-executed compositions, their clarity, simplicity, and craftsmanship – their imagery. Melchior Lorck lived from 1526/27 to sometime after 1583 and is relatively unknown today. Who was he? And what were his works?

Lorck was primarily a graphic artist and aimed to publish large, illustrated books. However, none of them were completed, and as a result, we only know a limited part of his ambitious artistic project. Its full extent and final expression can only be imagined. Nevertheless, a fascinating body of work remains. Research into Lorck's works has been limited compared to how pioneering an artist he was on the international stage. The seven articles in this book present new research that illuminates new aspects of Lorck's work and proposes new understandings and interpretations of it.