1512
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Mars and Venus is a 1512 ink by Jacopo de' Barbari, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a naked woman holding a baby, standing close to a man in full armor. The woman has wavy hair and a calm face, while the man wears a helmet with a plume, a breastplate, and greaves. His shield leans against his leg, and both figures stand on a textured ground. The artist used fine lines and shading to show muscle and fabric. Notice how the armor’s details are sharp, while the woman’s skin is softer. Try looking up *cross-hatching* to see how artists build shadows with layers of lines.
Jacopo de' Barbari, sometimes known or referred to as de'Barbari, de Barberi, de Barbari, Barbaro, Barberino, Barbarigo or Barberigo (c.
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