Christoffel van Sichem I

Dutch woodcutter and publisher
Dutch, (1546–1624)
Christoffel van Sichem I was the most talented of a family of four artists of the same name who helped keep woodcut book illustration alive in the northern Netherlands in the 17th century. His best works, such as "A View of Amsterdam" and some "Fantasy Portraits" after designs by Hendrick Goltzius and Jacob Matham, feature a swelling-line technique imitating their engraved line. He fled from Amsterdam to Basel in 1568, returning to the Netherlands in 1598. Van Sichem was also active as merchant. He was probably born in Amsterdam.