Artwork
Eros and Anteros
Eros and Anteros is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jacob Matham. It dates from 1588 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The print presents two unclothed figures entwined beneath a tree, set against a backdrop of turbulent clouds and jagged rock formations.
Jacob Matham’s 1588 engraving, titled Eros and Anteros, is executed on laid paper. The print presents two unclothed figures entwined beneath a tree, set against a backdrop of turbulent clouds and jagged rock formations. One figure, winged and bearing a light‑hearted expression, contrasts with a second, more solemn figure leaning toward the first. The composition captures a moment of intimate interaction between the mythological twins.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the mythic brothers Eros, the god of love, and Anteros, his counterpart representing reciprocal love or aversion. Their juxtaposition—playful versus serious—suggests a dialogue between desire and its reflection, hinting at the balance between giving and receiving affection. The surrounding natural elements, such as the tree and stormy sky, reinforce the emotional turbulence inherent in love’s dual nature.
Technique & Style
Matham employs fine cross‑hatching, layering parallel lines to create tonal variation and a sense of volume. This meticulous shading renders the bodies with a three‑dimensional quality despite the medium’s flatness. The engraving’s line work also defines the swirling clouds and rugged terrain, demonstrating the artist’s command of line to convey both texture and atmosphere within a single plate.
History & Provenance
Created in the late sixteenth century, the engraving reflects the Northern European print tradition that flourished after Albrecht Dürer’s innovations. Matham, a Dutch engraver trained in the workshop of Hendrick Goltzius, produced the work during a period of heightened interest in classical mythology. Surviving copies are held in several major museum collections, attesting to its continued scholarly relevance.
Artist & collection
