Cartouche
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cartouche is a 1646 ink by François Collignon, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows two winged figures tangled in swirling fabric and clouds. Their faces are blurred, and their bodies twist together in a chaotic knot. The lines are dark and scratchy, full of movement, like something caught in a storm. The artist used a technique where ink is scratched into a metal plate to create the lines. This method lets for sharp, detailed marks that feel almost alive. Next, look up etching to see how this process works.
