What movement is Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 3, Plate 2]?

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 3, Plate 2] is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 3, Plate 2]

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 3, Plate 2] is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jacob Hoefnagel. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Archetypa studiaque patris Georgii Hoefnagelii [Part 3, Plate 2] is an engraving on laid paper created by Jacob Hoefnagel in 1592. It is part of a series of prints depicting natural history subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving features a detailed scene of a mouse holding a snake on a small table, surrounded by flowers, a dragonfly, a spider, and a snail. The accompanying Latin phrase, 'Svo ipsius indicio perit sorex,' translates to 'The mouse dies by its own fault,' serving as a warning against excessive curiosity.

Technique & Style

The work showcases the artist's skill in rendering fine details, such as the tiny hairs on the mouse's tail, through the engraving technique. The use of black and white emphasizes the intricate textures and forms of the depicted subjects.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob Hoefnagel

Jacob Hoefnagel (also 'Jacobus', 'Jakob' or 'Jakub") (1573 in Antwerp – c.1632 in Hamburg), was a Flemish painter, printmaker, miniaturist, draftsman, art dealer, diplomat, merchant and politician.