Venus
1850
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a woman lying down, holding a small child. She’s naked except for a necklace and a draped cloth over her legs. Behind her, a stormy seascape with ships in trouble. The woman looks calm, while the sky is dark and dramatic. The title at the bottom says *Venus*, which was a common name for goddesses in old stories. The print was made from an earlier painting, so the artist focused on dramatic light and shadow. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting trick works.
