Young Man Standing with a Cane

Hendrick Goltzius

c. 1598

Young Man Standing with a Cane by Hendrick Goltzius, c. 1598

Hendrick Goltzius was the virtuoso of the engraving burin, and this piece proves it. We see a young traveler shouldering a heavy sack, yet he moves with a graceful, almost dance-like rhythm typical of the Mannerist style. Goltzius was famous for his 'swelling line' technique—varying the width of his engraved lines to mimic the shading of a brush—which gives the man's muscles and drapery incredible depth. It’s a masterclass in making black ink on paper look like a 3D sculpture.

Technique
Engraving
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