Twee sibillen 1592

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving, "Two Sibyls," sometime before his death in 1617. This print exemplifies the Northern Mannerist style, popular in the Netherlands at the time. But how might we understand this image of two prophetesses in its historical context? These figures, classical sibyls, are rendered with an interest in the idealized human form then in vogue, evident in their elegant poses and classical drapery. Yet, the print also reflects the influence of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the work of Polidoro da Caravaggio. Goltzius even acknowledges that the figures are based on his work in the inscription at the bottom of the engraving. This kind of artistic borrowing and adaptation was common in the 16th and 17th centuries. The image speaks to the humanist interest in classical learning and the contemporary artistic institutions that fostered the study and emulation of earlier masters. To understand this print more fully, scholars consult a wide range of sources, including artists' biographies, collections inventories, and histories of printmaking. Through this kind of historical analysis, we can appreciate the complex social and cultural forces that shaped the art of the past.