Icarus was painted by Hendrick Goltzius in 1588.

Where can I see Icarus?

Icarus is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Icarus?

Icarus is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Icarus?

Museum-quality prints of Icarus are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Icarus

Hendrick Goltzius , 1588

Icarus is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hendrick Goltzius. It dates from 1588 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:recto: in image, at bottom center: C. C. Pictor Inue / HG. sculp. 2; around image: SCIRE, DEI MVNVS, DIVINVM EST NOSCERE VELLE, SED FAS LIMITIBVS SE TENVISSE. / DVM SIBI QVISQUE SAPIT, NEC IVSTI EXAMINA CERNIT, ICARVS ICARYS NOMINA DONAT AQUIS. (It is something divine to want to acquire knowledge, the gift of God, but man must keep to his limits. As long as everyone has his own wisdom and does not keep the right measure in mind, Icarus gives his name to the Icarian Sea. [Latin translation from Huigen Leeflang and Ger Luijten, et. al, _Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617): Drawings, Prints and Paintings_ Exhibition catalogue. Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, 2003, p.98.]); verso: at lower center in brown ink: P. Mariette 1664 (Lugt 1790)

About this work

Overview

The print titled Icarus presents a lone, muscular figure caught mid‑air, his body twisted as if he is being hurled backward. The composition is dominated by the man's contorted posture and a startled expression, set against a turbulent backdrop of swirling clouds, churning sea, and distant shoreline.

Subject & Meaning

The scene evokes the classical myth of Icarus, whose overreaching ambition leads to a fatal fall. By emphasizing the figure’s strained muscles and shocked face, the work underscores themes of hubris and the peril inherent in striving beyond one’s limits, while the distant boat and shore suggest the world continuing beyond the tragedy.

Technique & Style

Executed as an engraving on laid paper, the image relies on deep, intersecting lines that carve the surface much like a woodcut. The artist employs strong chiaroscuro, using dense cross‑hatching to render the figure’s skin as if slick with sweat or rain, and to convey the swirling motion of clouds and waves.

Context

The print belongs to a tradition of Northern European printmaking that explored mythological subjects through highly detailed, dramatic compositions. Its approach to line work and tonal contrast reflects the influence of earlier masters such as Hendrick Goltzius, whose engravings similarly combined vigorous movement with meticulous rendering.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Hendrick Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.