Jacques Callot

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Michel Lasne, titled *Jacques Callot*, offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of European printmaking during the late Renaissance. Created between 1551 and 1600, the work portrays Jacques Callot, a celebrated figure in the field whose own etchings would later capture scenes of court life and conflict with remarkable detail. As a print in the National Gallery of Art’s collection from the R.L. Baumfeld Collection, it highlights the collaborative spirit among artists who documented one another’s likenesses through this accessible medium. Engravings like this one played a vital...

About the Artist

Michel Lasne · 1590–1667

Michel Lasne (ca. 1590–1667) was a French engraver, draughtsman, and collector who became one of the most prolific printmakers of the French Baroque period. Born in Caen around 1590, Lasne was the son of a goldsmith, which provided him with early exposure to metalworking techniques essential for engraving. His career spanned the reigns of Louis XIII and the early years of Louis XIV, during which h...