Spring, Drawing for Engraving of the Same Subject 1589 - 1599

Hendrick Goltzius's "Spring, Drawing for Engraving of the Same Subject" (1589-1599) depicts a romantic scene of a man playing a lute for a seated woman in a garden setting. The detailed drawing, executed in pen and brown ink on paper, is a preparatory study for an engraving. The work is characteristic of Goltzius's style, which often featured elaborate compositions and a high level of technical skill. This drawing highlights the artist's mastery of line and detail, capturing the figures' expressions and the lushness of the natural world. The presence of a cupid in the background adds to the romantic theme and underscores the season of spring. The work can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.