Frederick the Great, King of Prussia
1766
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1766
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man’s face and shoulders, framed by a circular border. His hair is wavy, pulled back, and his expression is serious. The background is filled with fine, crisscrossed lines that create texture, and his name, "Frederickus Rex Pruss," is written below in bold letters. The tiny, precise lines all over the image are made using a technique called cross-hatching. It’s how the artist built up shadows and details without color. Next, check out how cross-hatching works in other art.
