Christian IV of Denmark

Christian IV of Denmark

Renold Elstrack

1598

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a big beard and a wide-brimmed hat. He’s wearing a heavy fur collar and a chain of office around his neck. His hands hold a small object, maybe a glove or a piece of paper. The background is simple, but the edges of the image are filled with fancy text and symbols, like a crown and a shield. The text around him lists titles like "King of Denmark" and "Duke of Holstein," so this is clearly someone important. The lines in the print are all made by an engraving tool, creating shadows and details. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists create prints like this.

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