Title-page to "Varie Figuræ & Probæ"
Original title: Title-page to "Varie Figuræ & Probæ"
kurzbeschreibung
Wenceslaus Hollar made this title page in 1645 for his series 'Varie Figuræ & Probæ'. A male head in profile with curly hair fills the upper part, and below it sits a block of text with the title and publication details. The etching is the first of two states and measures 9.3 × 6.9 cm.
Description
A man's profile with curly hair dominates the top of the sheet; the hair and contours are rendered with fine hatching and lines. Beneath it comes a clearly set text block reading 'VARIE FIGVRÆ & Proba, a Wencelao Hol- lar Bohemò, Collectæ, & Aqua forti ari insculptæ, Antuerpiæ A. 1645'. At upper right, a small note refers to Leonardo da Vinci. The image is black and white, the light falls evenly without shadows, and the lines look precise and technical.
Context
The Bohemian etcher Wenceslaus Hollar produced this sheet in 1645 in Antwerp, where he worked for various publishers. It opens a collection of prints that served artists as models and included figure studies after prototypes such as Leonardo da Vinci. Hollar was known for his faithful reproductions; his career fell in an era when Antwerp was a centre of copperplate engraving.
Impact
The clear, symmetrical arrangement and fine linework give the etching a calm, matter-of-fact presence. The contrast between the detailed head and the plain text block draws the eye to the graphic quality, while the technical execution reveals high manual precision.
Technique
In this etching, the lines were scratched into an acid ground and then bitten. The fine hatching and contours show Hollar's sure handling of the needle. Printing was in black on paper, as was usual for this technique.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)