The Combat of Avigliana

Jacques Callot

1631

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

About this work

This print shows a chaotic battle scene with soldiers fighting across a valley. Hills and small towns dot the landscape, while a river runs through the bottom. At the top, a face floats in a decorative frame, and strange winged creatures hover at the edges. The artist used fine lines to pack in tiny details—every soldier, horse, and building is sharply drawn. This kind of precision was tricky to do by hand. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made intricate prints.