Rocaille Cartouche
1748
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1748
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows swirling, leaf-like shapes that look like they’re growing from a wall. The lines are soft and wavy, with little clouds or puffs tucked into the curves. It’s all in shades of gray and brown, with some faint red highlights. The design looks like it could be part of a fancy building or decoration. The artist used smooth strokes to make it look almost three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. If you like this style, check out Baroque art next.
