Artwork
Touch
Touch is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jan Pietersz Saenredam. It dates from 1595 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in plate, below image, at left: 5; in plate, below image: two lines of Latin verse; verso: at lower left in graphite in later hand: B 99
- Markings
- Marked:recto: none; verso: National Gallery of Art
About this work
Overview
Touch is an engraving on laid paper created by Jan Pietersz. Saenredam around 1595. It is a representative work of the Dutch Northern Mannerist movement.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a reclining woman and child, wrapped in fabric, with the child's hand touching the woman's face. The scene likely conveys a symbolic or narrative theme drawn from classical mythology or biblical narratives, characteristic of Saenredam's allegorical works.
Technique & Style
Saenredam employed fine lines and shading to create depth and emphasize textures, achieving a quiet and intimate atmosphere. The engraving's attention to detail, particularly in the fabric and hair, showcases the artist's skill in this medium.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Saenredam (c. 1565 – 6 April 1607) was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz…
