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Violinist

Jacques Callot

1622

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

Violinist is a 1622 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1622 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two men in fancy old clothes, each holding a violin. Their outfits have big cuffs, striped pants, and tall hats with feathers. One man’s sleeve is rolled up, showing his wrist, while the other holds his violin under his arm. The lines are sharp and full of tiny details, like the folds in their clothes and the strings on the violins. The artist used a technique that lets them draw directly onto metal plates, then press paper onto them to make the image. This method lets you see every little mark they made. Next, look up etching to see how artists create these detailed lines.