Ornamenteel ontwerp voor een dolk
Medium
etching
Dimensions
115; 159
About this artwork
date
Art Historical Context
Wenceslaus Hollar, a masterful Bohemian etcher of the 17th century created *Ornementeel ontwerp voor een dol* in 1645, a delicate etching measuring just 159 × 115 mm. Fleeing the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War, Hollar had settled in Antwerp by this time, where he produced an astonishing array of prints showcasing his precision and versatility. This ornamental design for a dagger exemplifies skill in translating intricate patterns into reproducible forms, likely intended as a template for silversmiths or armorers crafting luxury weapons for Europe's elite. Etching, Hollar's preferred medium,...
About the Artist
Wenceslaus Hollar · 1607–1677
Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) was a prolific Bohemian etcher who became one of the most accomplished printmakers of the seventeenth century. Born in Prague, he trained under Matthäus Merian in Frankfurt before entering the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, in 1636. Hollar spent most of his career in England, where he produced approximately 2,740 etchings documenting an extraordinary range...