Zelfmoord van Ajax

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

This striking chiaroscuro woodcut captures the dramatic final moments of Ajax the Greater, the legendary Greek warrior who, overcome by rage and dishonor after losing Achilles’ armor, takes his own life. Created by Niccolò Vicentino in 1608, the print translates a classical myth into a powerful visual narrative. Measuring 32 by 42 centimeters, the work employs the sophisticated chiaroscuro technique—using multiple woodblocks to produce tonal contrasts and color effects that mimic the richness of a drawing or painting. Vicentino, an Italian printmaker active in the late Renaissance and early B...