Peasant with a Cup
1621
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1621
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Peasant with a Cup is a 1621 ink by Edouard Eckman, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This simple drawing shows two men standing side by side, facing away from us. Both wear wide-brimmed hats, striped shirts, and loose pants. One holds a walking stick in his right hand and a small cup in his left, while the other mirrors the pose. The lines are clean but rough, like an old sketch. The image is made using a woodcut technique, where the artist carved the design into wood and pressed ink onto it. This method was common before photography. Check out how this woodcut technique works—it’s a whole different way of making art!
