Man met een knobbelige neus 1600 - 1610

Hendrick Goltzius, a Dutch printmaker, drew this portrait called 'Man met een knobbelige neus', or 'Man with a knobbly nose', sometime before 1617. Goltzius lived in a society where outward appearance was often linked to inner character, influenced by the pseudoscientific practice of physiognomy. The sitter’s prominent, ‘knobbly’ nose and fleshy features might have invited certain interpretations about his personality. In a world increasingly shaped by print culture, such images played a role in forming and reinforcing societal norms around beauty, class, and identity. Goltzius, celebrated for his technical skill, elevates this character study beyond mere observation. The sensitive lines and careful shading lend the portrait a sense of dignity, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface. What does it mean to immortalize a face that deviates from the ideal? And how do we reconcile our personal reactions with the historical context that shaped its creation?