Design for a Dagger Sheath with Cain and Abel
1539
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1539
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a dagger sheath decorated with a scene of Cain killing Abel. The figures are small and carefully cut into the metal. Tiny lines create shadows and folds in the fabric. The artist used cross-hatching, a technique where parallel lines cross to make dark areas. This style was common in German Renaissance prints. The scene looks flat but the lines give it depth. Look up cross-hatching if you want to see how this detail works in other prints.
