Duel of Two Dwarfs

Duel of Two Dwarfs

Stefano Della Bella

1637

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two small figures in a fight. One wears a puffy hat and a loose coat, swinging a stick. The other has wild curly hair and a feather in their cap, lunging forward with a sword. Both look determined, their bodies angled like they’re mid-motion. The artist used quick, bold lines to show movement, almost like a sketch. The background is just a few wavy lines for the ground—no extra details. Want to see more like this? Check out etching to learn how artists like this made prints.

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