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Hercules Killing Cacus,
1588
Goltzius became internationally renowned as a virtuoso printmaker after establishing a successful workshop in Haarlem in 1582. These two works demonstrate his mastery of both the human form and the chiaroscuro (literally “light and dark”) woodcut, an early color printing method involving multiple woodblocks inked in different hues.
Goltzius used the technique to dramatic effect in his depiction of Hercules carrying out one of his twelve labors: slaying the fire-breathing giant Cacus in order to rescue the cattle of Geryon, which Cacus had stolen from Hercules and trapped in his cave. Hercules is shown twice: in the foreground about to deliver the final blow, and in the right background removing a boulder at the cave’s entrance.
Information
1588
Europe, Netherlands
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F.W.H. Hollstein, "Goltzius-Heemskerck," Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings, and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700, (Amsterdam: M. Hertzberger, 1953).
, no. 17 - Otto Hirschmann and E. W. Moes, Hendrik Goltzius, Verzeichnis des graphischen Werks (Braunschweig: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1976)., no. 17
- "Acquisitions of the Art Museum 1978," Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University 38, no. 1 (1979): p. 14-38., p. 28
- Marjolein Leesberg, "Hendrick Goltzius," New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700 (Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, in co-operation with the Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 2012).
- Walter L. Strauss, ed., Hendrik Goltzius, 1558-1617: the complete engravings and woodcuts (New York: Abaris Books, 1977-)., no. 206
