Artwork
Hans Bol
Hans Bol is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hendrik Goltzius. It dates from 1593 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Hans Bol is an engraving on laid paper created by Hendrick Goltzius in 1593. The work portrays Hans Bol, a contemporary artist of Goltzius, known for his landscapes and miniatures.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Hans Bol as a bearded man with a ruff collar, gazing straight ahead. Symbolic elements include a scroll with Latin text encircling his head, cherubs holding a globe and sun above him, and a skull at the bottom, set amidst intricate, swirling decorations.
Technique & Style
Executed in the Northern Mannerist style, the engraving showcases Goltzius' technical mastery. Characteristic details include delicate cross-hatching and a dense composition, highlighting the controlled complexity achievable through engraving.
History & Provenance
Created in 1593, Hans Bol exemplifies Goltzius' work as the leading Dutch engraver of the early Baroque period. Notably, Goltzius later transitioned to painting in the latter part of his career.
Context
As an engraving, Hans Bol was produced through a labor-intensive process involving carving lines into metal plates, a prevalent method for print production before the advent of photography.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
Rumoldus Hogerbeets Hornanus
Ernest of Holstein, Schawenburg and Sternberg, Prince of Holy Roman Empire
Horaty Veer, Equitus (Horace Vere, Lord Vere of Telbury)
Rudolph II
Philip Louis, Count Palatine
Joannes Hugo van Linschoten
Ulrich Grundherr
Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick, Bishop of Halberstadt
Michael d'Aicing