Murder Scene

Murder Scene

Thomas Bewick

1790

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This red woodcut shows a chaotic, cramped room with two figures—one standing over another on the floor. The standing person holds a knife, while the fallen one clutches their chest. A dog sniffs near the body, and a candle flickers on a table. Dark, swirling lines fill the background, making the scene feel tense and crowded. The artist used only black ink and paper, but the red print makes the violence stand out. This style was common in old books and newspapers to grab attention. Next, look up engraving to see how artists carved these detailed lines.

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