Artwork

Officer with Plume, Seen from Behind

Officer with Plume, Seen from Behind, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1622
Officer with Plume, Seen from Behind, by Jacques Callot, ink, 1622

Officer with Plume, Seen from Behind 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 Plume, Seen from Behind is an etching on laid paper created by Jacques Callot in 1622. It is one of over 1,400 etchings produced by the French artist, who was known for documenting the life of his era.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts two men in elaborate 17th-century attire, shown from behind with outstretched arms. One figure wears a checked jacket and a hat adorned with a large feather, while the other is dressed in a long coat with ruffled cuffs. The scene includes smaller figures near a tree and a body of water in the background.

Technique & Style

The image is characterized by sharp, scratchy lines, a result of Callot's use of etching technique. He employed a needle to carve into a metal plate, which was then inked to produce the print. This process allowed for the creation of detailed, high-contrast imagery.

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.