A GIANT of the miniature.........in the shadow of DURER

Hans Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German printmaker who did his best work as an engraver, and was also a designer of woodcuts. He is one of the most important of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making prints in the generation after Dürer.  Mostly forgotten today, this guy was great and specialized in extremely small prints often not larger than 1"x2 1/2".  His print seem to sparkle and have a HUGE presence in spite of their small size.  Perhaps working in Nuremberg around the same time as Durer was not a help to his career.  Regardless, he is one of the true greats in the engraving medium and in my opinion deserves way more study.  Here is "Adam & Eve" from 1543(?), 82 mm x 56mm.  For more on Beham visit the Wikipedia page.