Three Musicians
1551
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1551
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows three men playing instruments together. One holds a lute, another a drum, and the third a small horn. Their clothes look old-fashioned, with loose sleeves and high collars. The ground beneath them is rough, with scattered stones and a few plants. Notice how the artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. It gives the whole scene a scratchy, detailed look. Check out how cross-hatching works in other prints next.
