Who painted Officer with Large Plume, Front View?

Officer with Large Plume, Front View was painted by Jacques Callot in 1622.

Where can I see Officer with Large Plume, Front View?

Officer with Large Plume, Front View is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Officer with Large Plume, Front View?

Officer with Large Plume, Front View is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Officer with Large Plume, Front View

Jacques Callot , 1622

Officer with Large Plume, Front View is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Officer with Large Plume, Front View is a 1622 etching on laid paper by Jacques Callot, a prolific French Baroque printmaker and draftsman from Lorraine.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two military figures in elaborate, old-style attire, complete with large wigs, tall feathers, loose buttoned coats, and sidearms, capturing a moment of dynamic interaction.

Technique & Style

Characterized by scratchy, uneven lines, the etching reflects Callot’s rapid, observational technique, typical of 17th-century lively scene capturing. The process involved acid and needles to create the design on the plate.

History & Provenance

Created in 1622, this work is part of Callot’s extensive oeuvre of over 1,400 etchings, focusing on military, courtly, and societal themes, often with detailed landscapes, though notably absent here.

Context

The piece situates itself within the broader Baroque period’s fascination with military and social documentation, with Callot’s work offering a glimpse into 17th-century customs and figures.

Legacy

Officer with Large Plume, Front View exemplifies Callot’s technical prowess and observational approach, contributing to his legacy as a documentarian of his time through precise and lively etchings.