Print from Drawing Book
1615
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1615
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows four hands working together to lift a heavy block. The hands are rough, with visible knuckles and short nails, and the block looks uneven and hard to move. Shadows and lines make the muscles and effort stand out clearly. The artist used tiny parallel lines to create dark and light areas, giving the scene depth. This was a common way to add texture in old prints. Check out engraving to see how artists like this made detailed images using just a sharp tool.