Christopher Chelys Simpson
1667
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1667
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a serious face. He’s wearing a high collar and a chain around his neck, plus a fancy coat. Below him is a small shield with a lion and some words. The artist used tiny lines to create shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. It makes the image look detailed even though it’s just ink on paper. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists make these sharp, precise lines.
