Icarus 1588

Hendrick Goltzius's 1588 engraving, *Icarus*, depicts the mythical figure plummeting towards the sea after flying too close to the sun. Goltzius, a prominent figure in the Northern Renaissance, employed a dramatic, almost Mannerist style, exaggerating anatomy and perspective to heighten the sense of Icarus's desperate fall. The inscription in Latin surrounding the central image reinforces the moral lesson of the story – to know one's limits. This print demonstrates Goltzius's mastery of engraving, evident in the meticulous detail and powerful depiction of the myth.