Aether

Art Historical Context

**Aether** by Hendrik Goltzius, created around 1588–1590, captures the ethereal essence of the mythological figure Aether, the ancient Greek personification of the pure upper air breathed by the gods. This striking chiaroscuro woodcut, printed in luxurious gold, olive, and black inks, hails from the Dutch master's innovative late Renaissance workshop in Haarlem. Goltzius, a virtuoso engraver and printmaker associated with Northern Mannerism, elevated prints to rival paintings through his technical prowess. The chiaroscuro technique—using multiple woodblocks to mimic the dramatic light and sha...

About the Artist

Hendrik Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617), born near Viersen in the Duchy of Jülich (modern Germany), emerged as the preeminent Dutch engraver of the Northern Mannerist era. From a lineage of artists—his great-grandfather and grandfather were painters in Venlo, and his father, Jan Goltz II, a glass painter—Goltzius began his training under his father in painting on glass. A childhood fire severely deformed hi...