Frans Crabbe van Espleghem


Frans Crabbe van Espleghem was a Flemish artist born c. 1480 Mechelen, Belgium, d. 1553 Mechelen, Belgium.
Frans Crabbe began exploring printmaking after Albrecht Dürer's visit to the Netherlands in 1521. Crabbe was known for doing engravings, etchings and woodcuts.

Master of the Crayfish

Early artists did not sign their names or identify themselves as the maker of the work in any way. At some point artists began adding discrete logos, monograms, initials, etc. to their works but in a number of cases the actual artist has not been identified. Where the artist has not been identified, all works done with the particular logo are assumed to have been done by the same artist and are referred to by the identifying marks e.g.: The Master E.S or Master I.B with the Bird.
Crabbe was initially known as "Master of the Crayfish". This was based on a crayfish type logo in his prints.
As per Hind:


Friedlander positively identified the "Master of the Crayfish" as being Frans Crabbe in 1921.

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