Val van Icarus c. 1550 - 1650

"Val van Icarus" (Fall of Icarus) is an anonymous etching from the Dutch Golden Age, depicting the mythological tale of Icarus. The image shows Icarus plummeting towards the sea, his wings broken, as the sun shines brightly in the sky. Below him, a shepherd looks up at the falling Icarus, unaware of the tragedy. The artist captures the moment of Icarus's fall with dramatic detail, showcasing the contrasting scenes of the shepherd's peaceful life and Icarus's doomed fate. The etching, a small yet powerful piece of art, is held at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.