Prospect of the inner part of Tangier

Art Historical Context

Wenceslaus Hollar, a masterful Bohemian etcher renowned for his precise topographical views, captures the bustling inner heart of Tangier in this from around 1670. Titled *Prospect of the Inner Part of Tangier*, the small-scale print (4 3/4 × 8 3/8 in.) depicts fortifications, sturdy houses, and horses, offering a vivid snapshot of the city's fortified core. As the second state of two, it reflects Hollar's meticulous revisions, enhancing details in this intricate medium where acid etches fine lines into a metal plate for remarkable clarity and texture. Created during England's brief but strategic control of Tangier (1661–1684)—acquired as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry to Charles II—this work documents a pivotal North African outpost. Tangier served as a vital naval base against Dutch rivals and Barbary corsairs, blending European military architecture with local life. Hollar, who had settled in England, brought his expertise in architectural precision to this exotic locale, likely based on on-site sketches. Hollar's etching technique shines here, rendering the interplay of stone walls, rooftops, and equestrian activity with lifelike fidelity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Bequest of Julie Parsons Redmond, 1960), this print not only showcases 17th-century printmaking prowess but also preserves a fleeting chapter of colonial history, inviting visitors to explore Tangier's multicultural past.

About the Artist

Wenceslaus Hollar · 1607–1677

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) was a prolific Bohemian etcher who became one of the most accomplished printmakers of the seventeenth century. Born in Prague, he trained under Matthäus Merian in Frankfurt before entering the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, in 1636. Hollar spent most of his career in England, where he produced approximately 2,740 etchings documenting an extraordinary range...