1544
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cimon and Pero is a 1544 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a muscular man holding a smaller, chained figure close. The man’s face is calm, but his grip is tight. The smaller figure looks up at him with a mix of fear and trust. The background has a rough texture, and there’s a partial view of a building or column on the right. The chains around the smaller figure’s wrists are a key detail—this isn’t just a random scene. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and muscle definition, making the figures look almost three-dimensional. Want to see how this technique works up close? Check out engraving.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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