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The Falconer

Jacques Callot

1617

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

The Falconer is a 1617 ink by Jacques Callot, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1617 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a woman lifting a giant falcon by its legs, her back to us. Around her, three men on horseback ride away, their faces turned toward her. The ground is rough and uneven, with scattered rocks and a wavy texture that looks like water or wind. The falcon’s size and the woman’s effort make it feel like more than a bird—maybe a symbol. The horses and riders seem small in comparison, as if the woman’s task is the main point. This is an etching, a printmaking method where artists scratch into a metal plate. Try looking up *etching* to see how it works.