Artwork

Four Women

Four Women, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1619
Four Women, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1619

Four Women is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1619 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Four Women is an engraving on laid paper created by Jacques Callot in 1619. It is a representative work of the French Baroque printmaker, known for documenting everyday life and social contexts through his etchings and engravings.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts four women in a dimly lit, cluttered room, possibly representing a scene from folklore or religion where the women are being freed from torment by spirits. Their varied postures and actions suggest different roles or states of being.

Technique & Style

Callot employed fine lines and shading to convey drama and tension within the confined space. The level of detail achieved through engraving is evident in the textured wallpaper and the statue in the corner, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the scene.

Context

As a work by Callot, Four Women reflects the artist's interest in capturing scenes of everyday life and broader social contexts, a theme consistent with his extensive body of work in etchings and engravings.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacques Callot

Artist

Jacques Callot

Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.