Evening
Medium
engraving laid on paper
Dimensions
plate: 21 x 15 cm (8 1/4 x 5 7/8 in.) sheet: 21.1 x 15.1 cm (8 5/16 x 5 15/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen
Accession Number
2012.92.652
Art Historical Context
"Evening," an exquisite engraving by Jan Pieters Saenredam after a design by Hendrik Goltus, dates to around 1595-1598. This small-scale print (plate: 21 x 15 cm) captures the tranquil hush of dusk through Goltzius's masterful, faithfully rendered by Saenred. Both artists were pivotal figures in late 16th-century Dutch printmaking, a golden era when engraving allowed intricate designs to reach collectors across Europe. Goltzius, a leading Mannerist, was renowned for his innovative "swelling line" technique—varying line thickness to mimic the fluidity of drawing and create dramatic light effec...