Pope Gregory the Great and Saint Vitale Interceding for the Souls in Purgatory
1731
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1731
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic, crowded scene. At the bottom, two robed figures kneel on rocky ground, one holding a book. Above them, swirling clouds of souls float, some reaching toward heaven, others tangled in pain. The lines are sharp and busy, with lots of movement and emotion. The artist used a technique called *etching* to carve fine details into a metal plate. This made the lines look crisp and layered, full of texture. Check out more about etching to see how this method creates such dramatic effects.
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