Artwork
René Descartes
René Descartes is an ink print by the Baroque artist French 17th Century. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper right in plate: C.H.Sc.; lower right in plate: ARISTOTLEs / RENATUS DESCARTES, NOBIL, GALL, PERRONI DOM, SUMMUS MATHEM, ET PHILOS.; by later hand on mount, lower right in graphite: "C.H. Sc."
About this work
Overview
This print is an engraving on laid paper depicting the philosopher René Descartes. Created using engraving techniques, it presents a detailed black-and-white image.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving shows Descartes seated at a cluttered desk, holding a book and gesturing as if in explanation. The scene is set with a window behind him displaying architectural elements and a cross, and a detailed rug on the floor.
Technique & Style
The engraving employs cross-hatching to achieve depth and texture, evident in the heavy folds of Descartes' robe and the seriousness of his face. Sharp, layered lines create shadows, adding to the overall detail.
Artist & collection
Artist
Seventeenth-century French printmakers worked in burin and acid. See the Beggar Woman with Rosary (1622), etched on laid paper with her hands folded in prayer, or The Siege of La Rochelle (1628/1631), one sheet from a…
