Two Dogs Copulating
1642
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows two dogs tangled together in a wooded area. Trees with thick branches and small bushes fill the background, while the ground looks rough and uneven. The dogs are the only figures, and their bodies twist around each other in a messy, tangled pose. The artist used sharp lines and shading to make the scene feel dramatic. The way the dogs are drawn suggests something unusual is happening, but the artist didn’t add extra details to explain it. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this one created textures like this.
