1589
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Tethys is a 1589 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image depicts a woman, Tethys, standing on a rock in the ocean, surrounded by sea creatures. She is nude, with long hair and a crown of leaves on her head. In her right hand, she holds a flag, while her left hand grasps a rope attached to a dolphin. The background features a cloudy sky and a body of water with other sea creatures. The woman's pose and the presence of sea creatures suggest that she is a goddess of the sea. The use of chiaroscuro woodcut in sepia-ochre, olive, and black on laid paper creates a sense of depth and texture in the image. The Renaissance style is evident in the detailed rendering of the woman and the sea creatures, as well as the use of symbolism to convey meaning. To learn more about this style, explore the Renaissance movement.
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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