Skirmish in a Roman Circus
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
Skirmish in a Roman Circus is a 1621 ink by Edouard Eckman, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a chaotic scene in what looks like a Roman arena. A large, winged figure with wild hair hovers above a crowd of small, scattered people. Some are running, others are falling, and a few hold weapons. The background has crumbling walls and a distant building, giving it a dramatic, stormy feel. The artist used sharp lines to show movement and chaos, which fits the Baroque style’s love of action and drama. The woodcut technique—carving into wood—lets you see the grainy texture in the print. Look up woodcut to see how this old printing method works.
