1648
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dragonfly, Ladybirds, and Butterflies is a 1648 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, depicting Insect, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a dragonfly perched on a plant stem. Around it cluster red ladybirds and a yellow butterfly. The details are sharp—every vein in the wings shows. Hollar made this in the 1640s. He often drew tiny living things like this. Printmakers loved these subjects because bugs looked cool under the needle. Worth a closer look at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
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