1651
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Merchant is a 1651 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a busy scene with two main groups. At the top, two small cherubic figures sit on a ledge, one holding a skull. Below them, a larger group of people gathers around a dying man on a bed, while ships and a stormy sky appear in the background. The bottom border has more small figures, some holding skulls or musical instruments. The Latin text at the bottom hints this might be about life, death, and human choices. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, which makes the scene feel dramatic. Look up etching to see how artists like Hollar made detailed prints like this.
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
See the richer artist page
