1589
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Chaos: The Untangling of Chaos, or the Creation of the Elements is a 1589 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a swirling mass of figures and symbols bursting apart. The lines are dense and tangled, like wires being pulled straight. Goltzius used tiny, crisscrossed lines to create shadows and depth—this is called cross-hatching. It’s based on an old myth about the universe forming from chaos. The scene feels crowded but controlled, as if order rises from the mess. You can spot gods, animals, and tools mixed in the chaos. Try looking up Goltzius, Hendrick to see more of his wild, detailed engravings.
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
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