Battle of the Horatii and the Curiatii
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows a wild fight. Three big guys in the front swing swords and shields. One man is swinging a spear over his head. Behind them, more soldiers clash on a bridge. Bodies lie on the ground. The scene looks chaotic and crowded. The artist packed lots of action into a small space. Every line feels sharp and busy, like a sketch gone wild. Try looking up cross-hatching to see how artists build dark areas with lines.
