Minneapolis Institute of Art

Demogorgon in the Cave of Eternity

Hendrick Goltzius

Date

c. 1588

Medium

Chiaroscuro woodcut

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Once known as the Magician, the subject of this woodcut has been identified as the Cave of Eternity. The central figure depicts Demogorgon or Chaos, the father of all gods, who transforms the unformed universe into the world as we know it. To the left is a snake biting its tail, symbolizing continuity or eternity. To the right is a sphere containing Diane of Ephesus, who sprays plants and animals into the air, symbolizing nature. This woodcut was printed from three separate blocks, one line block in black ink and two tone blocks in color to form a type of color woodcut known as a chiaroscuro woodcut. Taken from the Italian, the term chiaroscuro refers to the strong contrasts of lighter and darker values achieved through the printing of multiple line and tone blocks. Netherlands, Europe

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