Frontispiece, from Varie Figure (Various Figures)
ca. 1620
Medium
Etching; second state of three (Lieure)
Dimensions
Sheet: 3 7/16 x 3 3/4 in. (8.8 x 9.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957
Accession Number
57.650.373(1)
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot's *Frontispiece, fromie Figure (Various Figures)*, created around 1620, serves as the captivating title page for a series of etchings showcasing an array of fantastical and theatrical figures. As a leading French printmaker of the Baroque era, Callot was renowned for his intricate etchings that captured the vibrancy of street life, festivals, and grotesque characters. This small-scale work (just 3 7/16 x 3 3/4 inches) exemplifies his mastery in transforming everyday scenes into dynamic compositions, blending humor, satire, and meticulous detail. Etched in the second state of th...
About the Artist
Jacques Callot · 1592–1635
Jacques Callot (1592–1635) was a French printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine, widely regarded as one of the first great artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His more than 1,400 etchings chronicled the breadth of 17th-century life, from Medici court festivities to the brutal realities of warfare. Callot revolutionized etching through technical innovations including the é...