Jongeman en twee oude mannen

About this artwork

nummer, recto rechtsonder, handgeschreven: ‘2’

Art Historical Context

Created by the Italian Mannerist master Parmigianino between 1524 and 1540, *Jongeman en twee oude mannen* exemplifies the artist’s pioneering role in elevating etching from a reproductive technique to a fine art form. Parmigianino’s fluid, expressive line work and graceful figural distortions are hallmarks of the Mannerist style that emerged after the High Renaissance, favoring elegance and emotional intensity over classical balance. Measuring just 119 by 92 millimeters, this intimate print rewards close viewing. The small scale and delicate etched lines allow for subtle tonal gradations that bring the central figures—a youthful man flanked by two elders—to life. The handwritten number “2” on the lower right suggests the sheet once belonged to a numbered series or collector’s album, underscoring how such prints circulated among connoisseurs in the sixteenth century. As one of the earliest artists to explore etching’s creative potential, Parmigianino helped shape the medium’s future. This modest yet sophisticated work captures both his technical innovation and his interest in human relationships across generations.

About the Artist

Parmigianino · 1503–1540

Parmigianino (1503–1540), born Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, was an Italian painter and printmaker who became one of the most influential figures of the first generation of Mannerist artists. Orphaned before his second birthday, he was raised by his painter uncles in Parma and showed extraordinary precocity, completing a major altarpiece by age eighteen. His elegant, sophisticated style—charac...