Who painted Fantastic Heads?

Fantastic Heads was painted by Bartholomeus Breenbergh in 1638.

Where can I see Fantastic Heads?

Fantastic Heads is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Fantastic Heads?

Fantastic Heads is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Fantastic Heads?

Museum-quality prints of Fantastic Heads are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Fantastic Heads

Bartholomeus Breenbergh , 1638

Fantastic Heads is an ink print by the Baroque artist Bartholomeus Breenbergh. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Bartholomeus Breenbergh’s 1638 print titled Fantastic Heads is an etching executed on laid paper. The work presents a series of imagined human heads arranged loosely in a grid-like composition. Varying in expression—from calm to grotesque—the figures share long, undulating hair and beards, creating a cohesive yet diverse visual field.

Subject & Meaning

The print explores the theme of fantastical physiognomy, juxtaposing serene visages with more distorted, open-mouthed faces. This contrast may reflect contemporary interests in the range of human emotion and the uncanny, inviting viewers to contemplate the boundary between the familiar and the bizarre within portraiture.

Technique & Style

Breenbergh employed traditional etching methods, incising lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. The process yields fine, textured line work that emphasizes the intricate hair and facial details. The dark, shadowed background enhances the relief of the heads, a characteristic approach within Baroque printmaking.

Context

Created during the Baroque period, Fantastic Heads aligns with the era’s fascination with dramatic contrast and elaborate ornamentation. While Breenbergh is better known for landscape scenes, this print demonstrates his versatility and engagement with the period’s broader artistic experiments in imagination and form.