Careers by Design: Hendrick Goltzius & Peter Paul Rubens

The catalog explores the strategic and artistic brilliance of two masters who rose to prominence in the flourishing Baroque era around 1600. As European courts competed for prestige and wealthy patrons sought to assert their status, ambitious artists needed to expand their reach beyond local borders. Goltzius and Rubens mastered this challenge through the power of printmaking—using engravings, etchings, and woodcuts to spread their artistic innovations and establish international reputations.

This catalog, accompanying the exhibition, presents a carefully curated selection of 140 prints from the rich Munich holdings. Through thematic explorations—such as the role of dedications, the influence of antiquity, and the dynamic interplay between print and painting—it reveals the calculated strategies that propelled Goltzius and Rubens to artistic success. While Rubens collaborated with printmakers to disseminate his compositions across Europe, Goltzius skillfully harnessed print as both an independent medium and a promotional tool.

Richly illustrated and featuring insightful essays by leading art historians, this catalog offers an in-depth look at how these two artists navigated the competitive art world of their time. It is an essential resource for scholars, students, and art enthusiasts eager to understand the vital role of printmaking in shaping artistic careers during the Baroque period.