Who painted Everyman?

Everyman was painted by Pieter van der Heyden in 1558.

Where can I see Everyman?

Everyman is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Everyman?

Everyman is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Everyman?

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

Artwork

Everyman

Pieter van der Heyden , 1558

Everyman is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Pieter van der Heyden. It dates from 1558 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper left, below picture, in plate: NIEMA[N]T. EN. KENT. HE[M]. SELVE[N] (Nobody knows himself); on hems of coats of five foreground figures and beneath men with lanterns at upper right, in plate: ELCK (Everyman); on bag at center, in plate: NEMO NON (not no one); lower right, in image, in plate: H. COCK. EXCUD. CUM. PRIVILEG; lower margin, in plate: Nemo non quaerit passim sua commoda, Nemo / Non qu[a]erit sese' cunctis in rebus agendis, // Nemo non inhiat privatis undique lucris, / Hic trahit, ille trahit, cunctis amor unus habendi est. (No one does not seek his own advantage everywhere, no one does not seek himself in all that he does, no one does not look everywhere for private gain. This one pulls, that one pulls, all have the same love of possession.) [translation from Nadine Orenstein, ed., Pieter Bruegel the Elder: Drawings and Prints. Exhibition catalogue. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2001, p. 166.]

About this work

Overview

The engraving 'Everyman' is a print created by Pieter van der Heyden around 1558. It is a characteristic example of his reproductive work, translating a design into a printed form.

Subject & Meaning

The image is densely populated with figures, objects, and symbols, centered around a kneeling figure surrounded by various items. The repetition of 'Nemo Non' across the print suggests a moral or allegorical theme, potentially relating to human frailty or life's challenges.

Technique & Style

Van der Heyden employed sharp lines and shading to achieve depth in the engraving, creating a complex yet ordered scene. The level of detail suggests that every element is significant, contributing to the overall meaning.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Pieter van der Heyden

Pieter van der Heyden (c. 1530 - after March 1572) was a Flemish printmaker who is known for his reproductive engravings after works by leading Flemish painters and designers of the 16th century.