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Abraham Gorlaeus

Jacques de Gheyn II

1601

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

Abraham Gorlaeus is a 1601 ink by Jacques de Gheyn II, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques de Gheyn II
When & what style?: 1601 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows a man in a ruffled collar, sitting at a cluttered desk. His hands rest on papers and tools—some look like small metal objects. Behind him, a bookshelf and a vase sit on a windowsill, and a crest hangs on the wall. The text below is in Latin, but the image feels like a snapshot of a scholar’s quiet focus. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and details, making the scene feel almost three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Gheyn II created such sharp, precise images.