1593
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Harpocrates is a 1593 ink by Jan Muller, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows Harpocrates, the Greek god of silence, holding a finger to his lips. His face looks calm but serious. A snake curls around his arm—unusual for this god. Harpocrates was borrowed from ancient Egypt but became popular in Europe during the Renaissance. In this print, the artist used fine lines called cross-hatching to create shadows and depth. The tiny details make the image feel three-dimensional. Try looking up engraving to see how artists cut lines into metal to make prints like this one.
Jan Harmensz. Muller (1571–1628) was a Dutch engraver and painter. Muller was born in Amsterdam. His father was a book printer, engraver and publisher. He learned the engraving trade while working in the family…
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