Who painted Narcissus Looking in the Water?

Narcissus Looking in the Water was painted by Jacques Callot in 1628.

Where can I see Narcissus Looking in the Water?

Narcissus Looking in the Water is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Narcissus Looking in the Water?

Narcissus Looking in the Water is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Narcissus Looking in the Water

Jacques Callot , 1628

Narcissus Looking in the Water is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot’s 1628 print, titled *Narcissus Looking in the Water*, is an etching executed on laid paper. The image presents a solitary male figure bent over a shallow pool, absorbed in the sight of his own reflection, while a modest landscape of trees and distant hills recedes behind him. The composition is rendered in stark monochrome, emphasizing line and texture over colour.

Subject & Meaning

The work draws on the classical myth of Narcissus, a youth who fell in love with his own image. By isolating the figure in a quiet natural setting, Callot invites contemplation of self‑obsession and the fleeting nature of beauty. The surrounding scenery, rendered with minimal detail, serves to frame the introspective moment without distracting from the central act of gazing.

Technique & Style

The resulting marks are fine and intricate, especially evident in the folds of the figure’s clothing and the rippling water surface.

Callot employed traditional etching, incising a copper plate with a needle and then exposing it to acid to bite the lines. The resulting marks are fine and intricate, especially evident in the folds of the figure’s clothing and the rippling water surface. His characteristic precision and the slightly rough quality of the lines reflect the early Baroque emphasis on detailed observation and controlled draughtsmanship.

History & Provenance

Created while Callot was active in the Duchy of Lorraine, the print belongs to a prolific period in which he produced over a thousand images covering myth, religion, and contemporary life. *Narcissus Looking in the Water* exemplifies his interest in classical subjects alongside his broader documentary approach. The print has circulated among collectors of early modern prints and is documented in several museum collections specializing in Baroque graphic art.