Elizabeth
1850
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman with a serious expression. She wears a tall, fancy hat covered in flowers and lace, plus a ruff collar that fans out around her neck. A pearl necklace and earrings add to the look of wealth and status. The image is made using tiny lines and shading, which gives it a textured, almost 3D feel. This kind of detail work was common in older prints. Next, look up engraving to see how artists created intricate images like this before photography.
