Zwaardvechters

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso midden links, gestempeld: Lugt 2760

Art Historical Context

**Zwaardvechters (Sword Fighters)** *Cornelis Bos, 1552, etching, 248 × 189 mm* Step into the dynamic world of 16th-century Netherlandish printmaking with Cornelis Bos's *Zwaardvechters*, an etching capturing the intense clash of sword-wielding figures. Created in 1552, this work exemplifies Bos's skill as a versatile Antwerp-based artist (c. 1510–1566), known for his intricate designs influenced by Italian Mannerism and classical motifs. The title, Dutch for "sword fighters," suggests a dramatic scene of combat, likely part of Bos's explorations into human anatomy, movement, and grotesque ...

About the Artist

Cornelis Bos · 1510–1556

Cornelis Bos (c. 1506/10–before 1555), a Netherlandish engraver, printseller, and publisher born in 's-Hertogenbosch, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Antwerp print trade during the mid-16th century. His early life remains sparsely documented, with no records of formal training or mentors, though he was active in Antwerp by 1537, producing his earliest known engraving, *Prudence and Justice*, af...