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January and February

Aegidius Sadeler II

1615

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

January and February is a 1615 ink by Aegidius Sadeler II, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Aegidius Sadeler II
When & what style?: 1615 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a busy town square packed with people, animals, and buildings. On the left, a tall obelisk stands in the center, with a church and smaller houses behind it. To the right, a crowd gathers around a horse-drawn carriage, while cows and goats wander in the foreground. The sky is full of clouds, and a bare tree leans over the scene. Notice how the artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and details—this is called cross-hatching. The scene looks lively but also a little chaotic, with people moving in different directions. If you like this style, check out more about engraving.

About the artist

Artist

Aegidius Sadeler II

Aegidius Sadeler or Aegidius Sadeler II (1570–1629) was a Flemish engraver who was principally active at the Prague court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and his successors.

See the richer artist page