Graphics

During his journey abroad in 1552-54 Bruegel produced an extensive series of drawings of the Alps which later formed the basis a number of elaborate landscape designs engraved by other artists. On his return to Flanders from his journey abroad, Bruegel began to work for the Antwerp engraver and print-seller Hieronymus Cock. In addition to use Bruegel's landscape drawings for engravings, Cock soon employed Bruegel on figure compositions as well. For the rest of his life Bruegel was active as both a painter and designer of prints, and the two activities were closely linked. His contemporary reputation and presumably much of his income depended on the designs he made for professionally engraved and widely circulated prints of landscapes and various themes of a religious or allegorical nature.