Portret van de dichter Adriaan van der Hoop Jrs'zn

About this artwork

height 177 mm x width 116 mm

Art Historical Context

This delicate steel engraving, created by Edouard Taurel in 1856, the likeness of the Dutch Adriaan van der Hoop Jrszn. Measuring just by 116 millimeters the intimate scale suggests it have been intended for a book illustration or private collection, allowing viewers a personal connection to the literary figure it portrays. Steel engraving was a favored 19th-century technique prized for its ability to produce fine, precise lines and durable printing plates. Unlike earlier copper engravings, steel allowed artists to render subtle details in clothing, hair, and expression with remarkable clari...

About the Artist

Edouard Taurel · 1824–1892

Charles Edouard Taurel (1824–1892) was a Dutch engraver and illustrator whose career exemplified the continued vitality of steel engraving and etching in the Netherlands during the nineteenth century. Working primarily in Amsterdam, Taurel specialized in portrait engravings of Dutch historical figures and topographical views of Amsterdam and its surroundings. His work served both commemorative fun...