12/25

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

This small engraving titled "12/25," created by Dutch artist Jacob Gole between 1693 and 1700, offers a glimpse into the vibrant printmaking culture of the late Dutch Golden Age. Gole, known for his skilled reproductive engravings after designs by other masters, worked during a time when prints served as both artistic expressions and accessible forms of visual storytelling for a growing middle class. The engraving medium was particularly significant in this era, allowing intricate details to be etched into metal plates for widespread distribution. At just 115 by 90 millimeters, this intimate ...

About the Artist

Jacob Gole · 1660–1737

Jacob Gole (c. 1660-1737) was a Dutch engraver and mezzotinter renowned for his portrait engravings and his role in disseminating the mezzotint technique across Europe. Born in Paris to the celebrated Huguenot cabinetmaker Pierre Gole, he emerged as one of the most skilled printmakers of the late Dutch Golden Age. Gole's significance in art history lies primarily in his mastery of the mezzotint t...