Heraut 1586 - 1587

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving, "Heraut," sometime around 1586, and it is now held in the Rijksmuseum. The initial impression is one of structured formality, with sharp lines defining the architecture and the herald’s attire. The composition is divided into distinct planes, creating a stage-like space. Goltzius’s strategic use of line and form invites us to delve deeper into the artwork's meaning. The herald’s attire, meticulously detailed, signifies his role and status. The objects, such as the books and throne, act as signifiers within a cultural and intellectual framework. The contrast between the ornate herald and the more austere background hints at underlying tensions between display and power. The arrangement of shapes and forms does more than please the eye, it destabilizes fixed meanings. Is Goltzius critiquing or celebrating the established order? Ultimately, the engraving encourages us to question the values and categories of its time.