Artwork
Ixion
Ixion 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:in image, at bottom centre: C. Corneli Pictor. Inue. HG. Sculp. 4; around image: CVI SIBI CORPRVRIT PLAVDENS POPULARIBVS AVRIS, QVEM FAMAE STOLIDVM GLORIA VANA IVVAT. EXEMPLO SIT EI IXION, CVI IVPPITER ATRAM PRO IVNONE SVA SVPPOSVIT NEBVLAM (Let him whose wildly beating heart lusts after popularity, the fool who is absorbed by meaningless fame, take warning from Ixion, for whom Jupiter replaced his wife Juno with a dark cloud. [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.])
About this work
Overview
Ixion is a 1588 engraving on laid paper by Hendrick Goltzius, a prominent German-born Dutch printmaker and draftsman of the early Baroque/Northern Mannerist period.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a turbulent scene of a man (Ixion) entangled in stormy clouds, with outstretched arms and wildly kicking legs, set against a dark, chaotic landscape featuring jagged rocks and a faint shipwreck outline, conveying intense struggle and turmoil.
Technique & Style
Goltzius showcased his advanced printmaking technique through sharp, busy lines creating a sense of dynamic movement. The work prominently features cross-hatching, with tiny parallel lines building dense shadows and textures, amplifying the dramatic and chaotic atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1588, Ixion represents Goltzius's mastery of engraving prior to his later transition into painting, solidifying his reputation as the leading Dutch engraver of his time.
Context
Ixion reflects the artistic inclinations of the early Baroque/Northern Mannerist period, characterized by intricate compositions and intense emotional expressions, for which Goltzius was renowned.
Legacy
While the specific legacy of Ixion is not detailed in provided sources, as a work by Goltzius, it contributes to the broader recognition of his influence on Dutch printmaking and the development of Baroque aesthetics in Northern Europe.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
