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Three Oriental Figures

German 15th Century

1490

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Three Oriental Figures is a 1490 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 15th Century
When & what style?: 1490 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows three men in profile, all wearing tight, swirling turbans. The middle figure holds a small child, while the man on the left gestures with one hand. Their faces are serious, with strong lines and shadows. The background is plain, letting the figures stand out clearly. The artist used fine lines and shading to create depth, especially in the fabrics and hair. This was a common way to make engravings look three-dimensional. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.