The Waterworks

About this work

This engraving shows a woman lying on a couch, half-covered by a sheet, with a baby in her arms. Behind her, another woman leans over a table, holding a small child. The room looks fancy, with a draped bed and a shelf holding books and a vase. Light streams in from the left, and the scene feels busy but calm. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and textures, like the folds in the sheets or the woman’s hair. The way light hits the figures makes them look three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. Next, check out how cross-hatching works to build up dark and light.