Gevleugeld zeemonster met een hondenkop 1580 - 1610

This anonymous 16th century Dutch etching depicts a winged sea monster with a dog's head, a creature from classical mythology. The artist's detailed rendering, with its use of hatching and cross-hatching, captures the creature's sinuous form and the textured surface of its scales. The image is a fine example of the "small master" style, a trend in northern Europe which emphasized the production of high-quality prints in small dimensions. The etching, housed in the Rijksmuseum, is an example of the rich tradition of illustrative art and a testament to the artistic ingenuity of the anonymous artist.