Graaf Dirk II van Holland 1586 - 1587

Hendrick Goltzius's 1586 - 1587 engraving "Graaf Dirk II van Holland" depicts Dirk II, Count of Holland, in full armor, holding a sword and orb. This detailed print, housed at the Rijksmuseum, showcases Goltzius's skill in rendering minute details and capturing the regal bearing of his subject. As part of a larger series documenting Dutch history, the engraving likely aimed to elevate the figure of Dirk II and celebrate his legacy as a powerful ruler. The work exemplifies the influence of Mannerism in its elongated proportions and exaggerated features, placing it within the context of late Renaissance artistic trends.