Artwork
Martin Zobel
Martin Zobel is an ink print by the Baroque artist Lucas Kilian. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Martin Zobel is an oval-shaped engraving portrait created by Lucas Kilian in 1626, characterized by a detailed, realistic depiction of its subject against a dark background, with accompanying symbolic figures.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Martin Zobel, a man of discernment, indicated by his attire—a fur-trimmed coat and ruffled collar—and his engagement with a book, suggesting intellectual pursuits. Flanking figures hold a book and a clock, alluding to the balance between knowledge and the passage of time.
Technique & Style
Kilian employed intricate engraving techniques, including cross-hatching, to achieve depth, shading, and volume. The level of detail and realism align with the Augsburg school of printmaking, of which Kilian was a part, working within the Custos workshop.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1626 at the Custos workshop in Augsburg, where Kilian worked under the establishment of his stepfather, this engraving is part of Kilian’s diverse output that included portraits, mythological, and anatomical subjects.
Context
This work reflects the broader tendencies of the Augsburg school of printmaking during the Baroque period, emphasizing detailed realism and symbolic layering in portraiture.
Legacy
While specific lasting impacts of *Martin Zobel* are not broadly documented, it contributes to the understanding of 17th-century European printmaking techniques and the thematic concerns of the Augsburg school.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Kilian (Lucas Kilianus Augustanus; 1579–1637) was a German engraver and etcher from the Kilian family of engravers in Augsburg.
