The Hiring of the Troops
1614
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Jacques Callot
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
See the richer artist page1614
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Hiring of the Troops is a 1614 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white scene shows a group of men gathered around a table. Some are standing with spears or swords, while others sit counting coins and papers. A dog sits quietly in the corner, and in the background, soldiers march toward a distant battle. The lines are sharp and detailed, showing every fold in clothing and wrinkle on faces. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. It makes the scene feel busy and full of movement, even though it’s just ink on paper. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving to learn how artists create depth with lines.
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
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