1542
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ornament with Palmette and Two Dophin Heads is a 1542 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white picture with lots of swirly lines and shapes. Two dolphin heads peek out from the bottom corners, looking like they’re swimming in a sea of leaves and flowers. The middle has big, rounded decorations that look like stylized palm leaves. Everything is carved into the surface with sharp, precise lines. The artist used tiny dots and lines to create shadows and depth—this is called cross-hatching. It’s a trick to make flat paper look three-dimensional. Check out how engraving works next.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
See the richer artist page
