Artwork
Print Collection
Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist William Hole. It dates from 1619 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This print is a portrait of a man from the 17th century.
About this work
The print is black and white, sharp lines around his face and coat collar.
You see a man in old-fashioned clothes staring right at you. The print is black and white, sharp lines around his face and coat collar. A poet named Michael Drayton, from 1619.
Hole cut this print by hand, carving lines into a metal plate. Ink goes in the grooves, then paper gets pressed on top. It’s a rare look at a writer before photos.
Next time you’re in the Victoria and Albert Museum, find this print there.
Overview
This print is a portrait of a man from the 17th century. Created in 1619, it depicts the poet Michael Drayton in black and white.
Technique & Style
The print was made using an intaglio process, where a metal plate was hand-engraved with lines that were then filled with ink and transferred to paper under pressure.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is Michael Drayton, an English poet. The portrait offers a rare glimpse of a historical literary figure before the advent of photography.
History & Provenance
The print is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Artist & collection
