Non semper gravibus...
1597
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1597
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a man and woman dressed in fancy, old-fashioned clothes. The woman wears a long hooded cloak, pearls, and holds a fan. The man kneels beside her, dressed in a rich robe with a tall, feathered hat. Both look serious, and the scene has a quiet, formal feel. The Latin text at the bottom means "Even the wise sometimes joke and play." This print uses fine lines and shading to create depth, a technique called cross-hatching. Try looking up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
