Siren between Two Ships

Jacques Callot

1628

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Marine

About this work

This drawing shows a half-human, half-fish creature—like a mermaid—sitting on a rock in the ocean. She’s blowing a trumpet while two tall ships sail past on either side. The water looks choppy, and the ships have lots of ropes and sails. The artist used a scratchy, precise style that makes the lines look sharp and detailed. This kind of drawing is called an etching, where the artist carves into a metal plate to create the image. Next, check out more of Callot, Jacques’s work to see how he played with strange and funny scenes.