The Madonna of the Swallow (La Madonna Della Rondinella)

About this work

This engraving shows a woman holding a baby, sitting on a bench in a garden. Behind them, a tree and bushes fill the background, with a small bird perched nearby. The woman’s dress is simple, with soft folds, and the baby reaches toward her. The artist used tiny parallel lines to build up shadows and textures—notice how the leaves and fabric look almost three-dimensional. This is called cross-hatching. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with just lines.