The Road to Calvary
1605
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1605
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Road to Calvary is a 1605 ink by Jacques Bellange, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a chaotic crowd of people carrying crosses and weapons. Some figures are on horses or kneeling, while others stand or fall to the ground. The background has a city skyline with towers and buildings, and the whole image is in black and white with deep, scratchy lines. The artist used a technique that creates rough, textured lines—like scratching into a metal plate. This gives the image a dramatic, almost frantic feel. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Bellange made prints like this.
