A Raffle Leaf
1760
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1760
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This drawing shows a single, swirling raffle leaf in black ink on a yellowish background. The leaf’s stem curls upward into a fan of jagged, feathery edges, with tiny veins and a small bud at the top. The lines are precise but look almost alive, as if caught in motion. The artist used fine, layered lines to build up the leaf’s texture—no shading, just crisp ink. This style was common for decorative designs in the 1700s. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with just lines.
