Artwork
Erasmus of Rotterdam
Erasmus of Rotterdam is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hieronymus Hopfer. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1535, this black‑and‑white etching by Hieronymus Hopfer portrays the Dutch humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam. The work is executed as a print, allowing multiple copies, and presents the scholar in a solemn profile pose.
Subject & Meaning
Erasmus is shown in profile wearing a tall, pointed hat and a fur‑trimmed robe, his facial features rendered with pronounced jawline and furrowed eyes. Beneath the scholar, a diminutive figure—interpreted as the artist’s self‑portrait—looks upward, while surrounding text invokes the phrase “Der Tod ist der Ding,” linking the portrait to reflections on mortality.
Technique & Style
The image is achieved through etching, a process that uses acid to incise lines into a metal plate. Hopfer’s handling of line creates fine detail in the face and texture of the hat and fur, while the contrast between the dark robe and the lighter background emphasizes depth.
History & Provenance
Hieronymus Hopfer, a member of a German family of printmakers, produced this portrait during the early Reformation period. The work has been documented in several European collections, reflecting its circulation among scholars and collectors interested in Erasmus’s legacy.
Context
The inclusion of a motto about death reflects contemporary humanist preoccupations with the transience of life, a theme Erasmus himself explored in his writings. The portrait thus serves both as a likeness and a visual commentary on the era’s philosophical concerns.
Artist & collection
