Artwork
Johan Gols [The Artist's Father]
![Johan Gols [The Artist's Father], by Hendrick Goltzius, ink, 1578](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/hendrick-goltzius--johan-gols-the-artist-s-father--c8b45dabaade4192-w1024.webp)
Johan Gols [The Artist's Father] is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hendrick Goltzius. It dates from 1578 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:across top of plate: ANNO 1578; in image, in frame: IOHAN GOLS VAN KEISERSWERDT SEINES ALTERS · 44 ·; in image, on cartouche at bottom: Wan man als khan, aussrouten und vertreiben / Moiss doch die lieb, ewig bleiben (Though man may destroy and banish all, love exists eternally); in image, below inscription on cartouche: HGoltzius; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: B.171; H. 191 / 16082
About this work
Overview
Johan Gols [The Artist's Father] is an engraving on laid paper created by Hendrick Goltzius, showcasing the artist's skill in capturing detailed textures and character through intricate lines.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bust portrait of a man, likely the artist's father, in 16th-century attire, with a forward-facing pose and a slight head turn, conveying a sense of dignity and individual character.
Technique & Style
Goltzius employed a range of engraving techniques, using closely spaced lines to achieve nuanced shading and texture, particularly evident in the rendering of the subject's skin, beard, and clothing.
History & Provenance
Created when Goltzius was 26 years old, this work demonstrates the artist's early mastery of engraving, a skill that would become a hallmark of his career.
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.
