1568
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Allegory of Poverty Hindering Wit is a 1568 ink by Cornelis Cort, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
The painting depicts a man standing on a rocky outcrop, surrounded by sparse vegetation. He is nude, with a cloth draped over his left shoulder and tied around his waist. His right arm is raised, and his left hand holds a staff. A bird is perched on his outstretched hand. To the left of the man, a small, gnarled tree stump rises from the ground. The man's gaze is directed upwards, towards the bird. The background of the painting is a plain, off-white color. The artist's use of cross-hatching creates a sense of texture and depth in the image. The overall effect is one of simplicity and elegance. To learn more about the technique of cross-hatching, look up the artist Cort, Cornelis.
Cornelis Cort (c. 1533 – c. 17 March 1578) was a Dutch engraver and draughtsman. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Italy, where he was known as Cornelio Fiammingo.
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