Ser, Sive Sericus Vermis (Silk, or the Silkworm)
1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ser, Sive Sericus Vermis (Silk, or the Silkworm) is a 1592 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a busy scene with six men in old-fashioned clothes. One man kneels on the floor, another sits in a fancy chair, and the rest stand around a table with books and tools. In the background, a woman holds a basket while a child reaches up toward her. The room looks like a workshop with shelves, a window, and a small stove. The title at the bottom hints this is about silk or silkworms, but the exact story isn’t clear. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and textures, making the scene look almost three-dimensional. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this one used sharp tools to make detailed prints.
