Mercury and the Three Graces
1589
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1589
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows four figures in a wooded scene. A man with wings stands to the right, holding a staff and looking down at a seated woman. Two other women sit near her, one holding a basket of fruit. The trees and bushes around them are drawn with fine, detailed lines. The artist used tiny parallel lines to create shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. The figures look relaxed, almost like they’re posing for a quiet moment. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists build depth with just lines.
