Magdalena van de Passe

Magdalena van de Passe, one of the few female names in Early Modern engraving, came from a family of engravers and built an independent reputation as a reproductive engraver. Her style combines many of the lessons of previous engravers both north and south. The swelling line recalls Hendrick Goltzius, but Magdalena reintroduced contours around her figures, relying less on Goltzius’s formulas and heroic proportions. From fine manner engravers, she incorporated extensive dot-work. This combination may have also come from Italian sources, particularly Agostino Carracci, whose works appear on the next wall.

These are two of seven prints in the series illustrating the Seven Wonders of the World; the other plates in the series were completed by her brothers and father.