Miser
1651
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1651
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Miser is a 1651 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a chaotic scene with two men in the center. One is rich, sitting on a pile of coins and gold, while the other is poor, holding a staff and looking up. Around them, tiny figures—some happy, some sad—climb, play, and hold skulls. At the top, two cherubs hold a banner with a skull on it. The sides have tall, skinny figures with strange hats, and the bottom shows more tiny people with bones. The rich man’s greedy pose and the poor man’s hopeful gesture might hint at a warning about money and morality. The skulls and tiny figures add a sense of time passing and life’s fleeting nature. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Hollar made prints like this.
