Jug with wide spout
Original title: Jug with wide spout
kurzbeschreibung
In 1645 Wenceslaus Hollar made the etching Krug mit breitem Ausguss, presenting an elaborately decorated jug with a wide pouring lip. The sheet survives as a single print in etching and belongs among Hollar's studies of decorative objects.
Description
A jug with a broad spout fills the sheet, its surface covered entirely with floral and ornamental patterns. The long, richly adorned spout tapers into a spiral flourish, and the handle likewise carries a complex design. A wide, profiled foot, also ornamented, supports the vessel. The jug stands alone and centred, with no other objects or figures. The etching remains in black and white and shows no discernible play of light or shadow.
Context
The Bohemian printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar made this etching in 1645 in England, where he had worked since the 1630s. In those years Hollar was known for his exact renderings of art objects and antiquities. Only this one known version of the motif exists, which suggests a deliberate study or a commissioned piece.
Impact
Delicate lines and the detailed rendering of the ornaments give the sheet an almost tangible presence. Because the jug is shown alone, attention falls entirely on its form and decoration, producing a quiet, concentrated effect.
Technique
For this etching the lines were incised into an etched metal plate and then printed on paper. The precise, fine lines point to careful work with the needle, and the single print suggests a small edition.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)