Artwork
Arithmetic
Arithmetic is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Cornelis Jacobsz Drebbel. It dates from 1597 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis Jacobsz Drebbel’s engraving titled Arithmetic, executed around 1597, presents a domestic scene rendered in fine line work on laid paper. The composition features a partially draped woman and a child, both engaged with a scroll that bears the inscription “arithmetica,” suggesting an instructional or scholarly theme.
Subject & Meaning
The figures appear to be involved in a lesson on counting or basic mathematics, with the child pointing to the text while the woman, perhaps a tutor, holds the scroll. The inclusion of the word “arithmetica” directly links the image to the study of numbers, reflecting the period’s interest in didactic visual material.
Technique & Style
Drebbel employs delicate hatching and cross‑hatching to model the textures of hair, fabric, and background elements. The engraving’s tonal variation is achieved through closely spaced lines, creating depth in the curtain, window, and the bird perch that frame the central figures.
History & Provenance
Created at the close of the sixteenth century, the print belongs to a broader corpus of educational engravings circulating in the Dutch Republic. Its survival on laid paper indicates it was likely produced for a modest market, possibly as part of a series of instructional images.
Context
During the late 1500s, the Dutch Republic saw a rise in printed material aimed at disseminating knowledge, including arithmetic manuals. Engravings such as Drebbel’s served both decorative and pedagogical purposes, aligning visual art with emerging curricula in basic numeracy.
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