Battle of the Foot Soldiers with Lances
1515
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1515
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a chaotic battle scene with rows of soldiers armed with long lances. The men are tightly packed, some falling, others pushing forward. In the background, a walled castle with tall towers stands over the fighting. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to show the action and tension. This style was common in woodcuts, where ink is pressed into carved wood. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printing method works.
