Jacob Neefs

Jacob Neefs was a prominent Flemish engraver and publisher active in Antwerp during the 17th century. A pupil of Lucas Vorsterman the Elder, Neefs became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1632–33 and was closely associated with the Jesuit community, joining their bachelor fraternity that same year. He played a significant role in the production of prints after the works of major Flemish painters of the Baroque era, including Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens, and Philip Fruytiers.

Neefs contributed to van Dyck’s famed Iconography series and was among the last engravers to work directly under Rubens. His output included both portraiture and allegorical subjects, often executed with precision and finesse using the burin. Collaborating frequently with other engravers and publishers, Neefs was involved in the illustration of numerous books, particularly those produced in Antwerp and Leuven between the 1630s and 1650s.

His engravings are noted for their clarity, technical control, and the subtlety of line, and he maintained professional relationships with many of the leading printmakers and artists of his time. Neefs continued to be active until at least 1661 and is recognized as part of the generation that helped disseminate Flemish Baroque art across Europe through the printed image.