1676
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-86-62
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This intriguing print from 1676, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, invites visitors to ponder one of the earliest surviving examples of graphic art in an American context. Created by an unknown artist during a pivotal era—the late 17th century, amid expansion and the Baroque period's dramatic influences—this work reflects the nascent world of printmaking. Prints like this were revolutionary, allowing images to be reproduced affordably and widely, from news broadsides to religious iconography, bridging Europe and the New World. As a medium, 1676 printmaking relied on techniques su...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...