Claes Jansz. Visscher II

Besides being a talented draughtsman and etcher, Claes Visscher (1586-1652) of Amsterdam was also a leading publisher of prints, maps and topographical views. As such, he exercised considerable influence on the development of Dutch landscape art. Following Hendrick Goltzius, he was one of the first to depict the countryside in which he lived as he saw it, without embellishment. He began drawing landscapes of the Haarlem and Amsterdam area in 1607. In addition, he made around two hundred etchings. One of the most impressive examples is the magnificent profile of Amsterdam that he made in 1611. Visscher was a strict Calvinist and played a prominent role as deacon and elder of the Reformed Church.