Val van Icarus 1675 - 1711

"Val van Icarus" is an anonymous etching from 1675-1711, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It depicts the Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus. Icarus, having crafted wings of feathers and wax, flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and sending him plummeting to his death. The artist uses a detailed landscape to depict the fall, emphasizing the contrast between Icarus's hubris and the tragic consequences of his actions. The etching serves as a visual reminder of the dangers of exceeding human limits and the fragility of human ambition.