Three Riders before an Inn
1656
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1656
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Three riders on horseback stop outside a plain inn. The inn’s wooden sign swings above their heads. One rider hands coins to a woman who leans out the door. This etching is small, just big enough to fit in your palm. It shows everyday life in 1656. The artist used fine lines to create shadows that feel real. Look at the contrast between light and dark in the buildings. It’s called chiaroscuro in art terms, a technique used to make shapes pop. Try the National Gallery of Art, Washington to see it in person.
