The Cook and His Wife

About this work

This print shows a man and a woman standing side by side. The man holds a wooden spoon in one hand and a knife in his belt. His shirt is loose, and his chest looks muscular. The woman wears a long dress with a white cap on her head. Both have serious faces, and the lines around them are sharp and detailed. Notice how the artist used tiny parallel lines to create shadows and texture. This was a common way to build depth in early prints. Try looking up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed images with metal plates and acid.