Urs Graf (Born 1485) was a Swiss goldsmith, engraver, and draftsman, known for his etchings, woodcuts and drawings. He was born in Solothurn, Switz and died in Basel in 1527. Graf was the son of Hugo Graf, a goldsmith. He probably studied first under his father and later at Basel, following the style of draftsman Hans Baldung-Grien and of the German painter Albrecht Dürer Dürer’s assistant. He settled in Basel in 1509, and executed his masterpiece as a goldsmith. His surviving works include one hundred woodcuts, a number of etchings, engravings, and nielli plus two hundred drawings, most of which are dated and signed with his monogram. However, he only produced two etchings, one of which dates from 1513. This is the earliest known etching for which a date has been established. Graf’s drawing style is highly ornamental, energetic, and often bold.
He often accompanied Swiss mercenaries in their military adventures, and the main subjects of his works are these soldiers. Graf’s etching “Woman Bathing Her Feet” is one of the earliest known dated etchings. His artistic output includes a wide range of subjects and they arise from the tradition of Hans Baldung and Albrecht Dürer, depicting criminal, political, social, military, and erotic images. Strong religious feelings also emerge in some of his works. He produced creative and innovative drawings intended as finished works of art rather than just studies. Urs Graf had several museum and gallery exhibitions, including at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center and at the Kunstmuseum Basel. Graf initially earned money by assisting a stained glass painter and as a designer of woodcut book illustrations.
