Artwork
The Homecoming of Tobias
The Homecoming of Tobias is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Johannes van Doetechum the Elder. It dates from 1565 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Homecoming of Tobias is a 16th-century print created by Dutch engraver-cartographer Johannes van Doetecum the Elder around 1565. Executed in etching and engraving on laid paper, the work showcases Doetecum's meticulous technique.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling town scene with a river, inhabited by people engaged in various activities. While the exact source is unspecified, the Latin text at the bottom suggests a narrative of a son's homecoming, potentially rooted in biblical or literary tradition.
Technique & Style
Doetecum employed a combination of etching and engraving to achieve sharp lines and dense detail. The image is characterized by its crowded composition, with intricate textures, such as steep-roofed buildings, a distant church, and minutely rendered figures even in the background.
History & Provenance
Created during Doetecum's time in Deventer (before his 1578 move to Haarlem), the print reflects his collaborative practice, often working with his brother Lucas and later, his sons. His oeuvre includes genre scenes after Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Dutch city maps.
Context
As a product of late 16th-century Dutch printmaking, The Homecoming of Tobias sits within a tradition of detailed, narratively driven works. Doetecum's use of etching alongside engraving marks an early adoption of etching in Dutch artistic practice.
Legacy
Through his training of family members and contributions to the dissemination of Bruegel's genre scenes, Doetecum influenced the development of Dutch printmaking. The Homecoming of Tobias remains a testament to his technical skill and the narrative depth of his compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes van Doetechum the Elder
Joannes van Doetecum the Elder (1530 – 1605) was a Dutch engraver-cartographer known for his etched works after genre scenes by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and maps of various cities in the Netherlands.
Bird Dropping Blinding Tobit
Tobias Catching the Fish in the River Tigris
The Rabbit Hunt
Plaustrum Belgicum (The Belgian Wagon)
The Departure of the Angel
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Cephalus and Procris
Euntes in Emaus (The Pilgrims to Emmaus)
Imaginary Landscape with an Amorous Couple
Euntes in Emaus (The Pilgrims to Emmaus)
Tobias Taking Leave of his Parents