Masked small figure with a sword in both hands, in profile view, striding to the right, from the series 'Varie figure gobbi'
ca. 1621–25
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Plate: 2 9/16 x 3 3/8 in. (6.5 x 8.5 cm) Sheet: 3 3/4 x 5 3/8 in. (9.6 x 13.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.255.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This etching, *Masked small figure with a in both hands, in view, striding to right*, is one of Jacques Callot's whimsical creations from his series *Varie figurebi* (Various Hunchbacked Figures), produced around 1621–. The French-born artist, renowned for his masterful printmaking during the early Baroque period, captures a dynamic profile of a diminutive, masked hunchback gripping swords in both hands as he strides confidently rightward. Rendered on a tiny plate (just 2 9/16 x 3 3/8 inches), the image bursts with intricate detail, showcasing Callot's fascination with grotesque, fantastical c...
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...