1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Polyhymnia is a 1592 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a woman sitting with a scroll in one hand and a pen in the other. She’s dressed in flowing robes, looking thoughtful. The background is plain, but her face and hands are detailed, with soft shading. The scroll and pen suggest she might represent a muse of poetry or learning. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, even though it’s just ink on paper. Next, check out the technique: engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
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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