Standing Young Man with a Cane c. 1588

This is Hendrick Goltzius's "Standing Young Man with a Cane", a print made using woodblock technique. The figure’s contrapposto stance and idealized physique draw on classical antiquity, reflecting the influence of the Renaissance. Goltzius made this print in the Netherlands. We can read it as commenting on the social structures of its time. The cane and classical references may suggest the sitter comes from a privileged background, while his bare feet and simple clothing perhaps nod to a humanist ideal of simplicity. Looking at the institutional history of printmaking, we see that prints were often made for a wider audience than paintings, and could circulate ideas more broadly. This print may have been intended to promote a particular vision of masculinity or social status. By consulting historical sources and the scholarship of other art historians, we can continue to unravel the social and cultural meanings embedded in Goltzius’s work.