Avonturen van Telemachus

About this artwork

Schenking van de heer Burger

Art Historical Context

**Avonturen van Telem** (Adventures of Telemachus), etching by Dutch artist Simon Fokke from 1775, captures pivotal moment from the epic tale of Telemachus, son of Odysseus. Drawing from François Fénelon's influential 1699 novel *Les A de Télémaque*, moralistic retelling of Homer's *Odyssey*, Fokke illustrates the young hero's perilous journeys in search of his father. This small-scale print (146 × 92 mm) reflects the 18th-century fascination with classical antiquity during the Enlightenment, when such stories were adapted to teach virtue, governance, and adventure to European audiences. Fokke, a prolific engraver and book illustrator (1712–1799), mastered etching—a technique where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate for detailed reproductions. His precise, elegant style blends Rococo fluidity with emerging Neoclassical clarity, making complex narratives accessible in affordable prints for books or collections. This work exemplifies how etchings democratized art, allowing middle-class viewers to own refined classical imagery. Graciously donated as the "Schenking van de heer Burger" (gift from Mr. Burger), this piece highlights the era's vibrant print culture in the Dutch Republic, bridging literature and visual storytelling for enduring cultural resonance.

About the Artist

Simon Fokke · 1712–1784

Comment on works: Draugstman; Portrait