Strasbourg, from "German Views"
1663–65
Medium
Etching, only state
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 1/8 × 4 1/2 in. (5.4 × 11.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1917
Accession Number
17.50.17-403
Tags
Art Historical Context
Wenceslaus Hollar, a Bohemian etcher active in England during the 17th century, captured essence of European cities in his intricate prints. "Strasbourg, fromGerman Views'" (1663–65) is a gem from this series, depicting the bustling Rhine River city—then a key stronghold in the Holy Roman Empire blending German and French influences amid rising tensions that would lead to its French annexation decades later. Hollar's topographical precision made such views invaluable historical records, offering visitors a window into urban life before widespread photography. This petite etching (just 2 1/8 ×...
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...