Artwork
Poetry
Poetry 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 print — titled “Poetry”—is an engraving on laid paper dating from around 1597. Executed in black ink, the image presents a quiet interior scene illuminated by subdued light, focusing on two figures whose interaction suggests a narrative moment captured in the early modern period.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a young woman reclined on a pillow, her arm extended, while an older bearded man leans over her, grasping a small sprig of leaves. The juxtaposition of youth and age, together with the botanical element, has been interpreted as an allegorical reference to the fleeting nature of beauty or the transmission of poetic inspiration.
Technique & Style
Drebbel employed the traditional engraving method, incising fine lines into a metal plate and transferring the image onto laid paper. Delicate hatching creates subtle gradations of tone, especially in the rendering of skin and drapery, while cross‑hatching conveys the texture of the leaves and the sheen of the fabrics, demonstrating the artist’s command of line work.
History & Provenance
Created at the close of the 16th century, the print belongs to a period when Dutch engravers were exploring literary and allegorical subjects. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work has appeared in several catalogue raisonnés of early Dutch prints, indicating its recognition among collectors of early modern graphic art.
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