Hendrick Goltzius

History and art go hand in hand, and this holds true for Hendrick Goltzius, whose life parallels the rise of Dutch painting, and whose paintings offer surprising glimpses into the past in various ways. He might have been the first to depict a North Holland farmhouse with a thatched roof, for instance. Observing the world through Goltzius's eyes is indeed the fun part of art!

The life of Hendrick Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius was born in 1558 in what is now Germany. However, during his time, national borders were more fluid, and he lived not far from the Netherlands; his native dialect was similar to Venlo's. He spent most of his childhood in Duisburg, and despite burning his right hand as a child, he began practicing the art of painting at an early age.

In Xanten, near Duisburg, Hendrick Goltzius met the Dutch intellectual Dirck Coornhert, who taught him engraving. This marked the beginning of a close friendship and successful collaboration. When Coornhert returned to his hometown of Haarlem in 1576, Hendrick Goltzius, then just eighteen years old, followed him there, where he would live for the rest of his life.

In the spirit of Coornhert, Hendrick Goltzius honed his skills as an engraver, creating provocative and often moralistic prints. He was also influenced by other artists. After Coornhert's death in 1590, Goltzius embarked on a journey to Italy to seek more inspiration. At that time, Italy was the epicenter of the art world.

Following his trip to Italy, Hendrick Goltzius increasingly turned to painting and eventually abandoned engraving. He personified the transformation that occurred in the Dutch art world, where painting was elevated to the highest form of art. As a painter, artists had the power of expression and artistic freedom. Goltzius became a celebrity and would have a lasting influence on Dutch painting. Some even consider him the true founder of Dutch painting. Hendrick Goltzius passed away in Haarlem in 1618.

Works of Hendrick Goltzius

For a significant portion of his career, Hendrick Goltzius was an engraver - and an exceptional one at that. His vibrant and technically perfect engravings continue to leave a profound impression. Even in his engravings, Goltzius demonstrated his keen eye for everyday life, ordinary people, and their imperfections. He enjoyed holding a mirror up to his audience, reflecting the principles of genre painting.

As a painter, Hendrick Goltzius was a pioneer who was among the first to work in a truly realistic manner, portraying people as flesh-and-blood individuals. Later painters were indebted to him, but they also surpassed him as knowledge of painting techniques continued to advance. Nonetheless, Goltzius deserves all the praise as a trailblazer.

Hendrick Goltzius & the fun part of art

Genre painting, Dutch painting, and perhaps even Dutch history would have looked different if the genius Hendrick Goltzius had not followed Coornhert to Haarlem. Goltzius makes the past tangible, and in the virtual museum of the fun part of art, we look through Hendrick Goltzius's eyes at the Golden Age of Holland and ultimately see ourselves in his mirror.