The Minnesang riddle: A multi-analytical approach to an undated colour woodcut

In this work, a multi-colour woodcut on paper, representing a Minnesanger (love poet) who declares his love to a young lady, was studied from both historical and archaeometric points of view. In the absence of historical or documentary information, non-invasive imaging, EDXRF, and µ-Raman spectroscopies were employed, in order to date this artefact. The woodcut Minnesang is known in a single and so-far undescribed copy and shows the influence of German Renaissance colour woodcuts as well as Arras 15th century tapestries. Nevertheless, according to our investigations, it does not date back to that period. In fact, the presence of Prussian blue and chrome yellow and, most of all, the finding of two organic pigments, namely PR53:1 and PR81, suggest to date the artwork at the beginning of the 20th century, in the context of a neo-Gothic Arts and Crafts revival.