Jan van Mildert

About this work

This engraving shows a muscular man with a lion at his feet. The lines are sharp and deep, making shadows and muscles pop. Cross-hatching creates thick, dark areas that look almost three-dimensional. Van Mildert was a real person from a small town in Germany. Artists often used engravings to spread famous paintings. This one copies a work by Peter Paul Rubens, a big name in art at the time. Look up the National Gallery of Art, Washington to see more prints like this.