Vertical Panel with a Man and Woman

Art Historical Context

**Vertical Panel with a Man and** *ca. 1631, Claes Jansz. Visscher, Hans Janssen, Bartolomeus van Loch* Step into the intricate world of 17th Dutch printmaking with this charming *Vertical Panel with a Man Woman*, created around 1631 by the collaborative talents of engravers Claes Jansz. Visscher, Hans Janssen, andolomeus van Lochom Measuring a diminutive 3 5/16 × 1 7/16 inches, this trimmed sheet captures a lively vertical composition featuring a man and woman alongside birds, dogs, and monkeys—evoking a sense of playful companionship amid ornamental elegance. Executed in blackwork and engraving, the print demonstrates the technical virtuosity of the Dutch Golden Age. Blackwork's dense, velvety shading through fine cross-hatching creates dramatic contrasts and rich textures, ideal for architectural and decorative motifs. Classified under Prints: Ornament & Architecture, it likely served as a model sheet for artisans crafting textiles, paneling, or furniture, reflecting the era's booming trade in exotic designs inspired by global exploration. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this tiny gem highlights the collaborative ingenuity of Dutch workshops. Its whimsical menagerie adds cultural delight, blending human figures with animals in a compact celebration of decorative fantasy.

About the Artist

Claes Jansz. Visscher|Hans Janssen|Bartolomeus van Lochom · 1586–1652

Claes Jansz. Visscher, also known as Nicolas Joannis Visscher II or Joannis Piscator, was a prominent Dutch Golden Age draughtsman, engraver, mapmaker, and publisher born in Amsterdam in 1587 and died there on June 19, 1652. The son of the printmaker and publisher Jan Claesz. Visscher (c. 1550–1612), he learned the art of etching and printing from his father, helping to expand the family trade int...