Pieter Brueghel the Younger

Impressions could be pulled at any time in the working of a plate, so preserving stages in a print’s evolution; these are termed “states.” Peter Brueghel the Younger, a fellow painter, is exhibited here in the state Van Dyck left it. Although a quick sketch, Van Dyck considered it complete and impressions were printed, likely directed to connoisseurs. A later state shows additions made by a publisher to prepare the print for wide-spread sale after Van Dyck’s early death.