Mars, Venus and Cupid

About this work

This sketch shows three figures tangled in vines and leaves. A muscular man with a helmet leans in, a woman with flowing hair reaches toward him, and a small child clings to her side. The lines are loose and scratchy, like quick pencil strokes, with no color—just black and white. The artist used a technique called etching, where lines are carved into a metal plate before inking. The rough edges and shading give the scene a lively, almost restless feel. Next, check out etching to see how artists create these textured prints.