Study of the Laocoön
1800
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1800
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This drawing shows a big, strong man tangled in snakes. Two smaller figures stand near him—one looks scared, the other reaches up like he’s trying to help. The big man’s muscles are tight, and his face is twisted in pain. The snakes coil around his legs and arms, pulling him down. The artist copied a famous statue, but made it look like a sketch. The lines are dark and rough, almost like scratching into the paper. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
