The Abduction of Europa
1634
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1634
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A bull with curved horns swims in dark water. Europa sits sideways on its back, her white dress flaring. Behind them, two smaller figures hold the bull’s tail. This is an etching, a kind of print made by scratching lines into a metal plate. The lines are sharp and deep, giving the scene a rough, urgent feel. The bull’s body looks almost real because of how the lines pile up. Check out the same artist’s work at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
