Erasmus of Rotterdam

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a serious-looking man in profile, wearing a tall, pointed hat and a fur-lined robe. His face is detailed, with a strong jaw and deep lines around his eyes. Below him, a smaller figure—maybe a self-portrait of the artist—peeks out from under the robe, looking upward. The text at the top reads "ERASMVS ROTERODAMVS," which is a fancy way of saying "Erasmus of Rotterdam." The words around the smaller figure say things like "Der Tod ist der Ding," which roughly means "Death is the thing." It’s like the artist is playing with ideas about life and death. If you like this style, check out more about etching.