1550
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Madonna and Child is a 1550 ink by German 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman holding a small child, both floating above clouds. Around them, angels with wings hover—some look down, others stretch their hands toward the scene. The woman wears a crown and a long, flowing robe, while the child reaches up toward her face. The whole image is made of dark lines on light paper, giving it a sharp, etched look. Notice how the artist used tiny parallel lines to build up shadows and depth—this is called *cross-hatching*. It’s a trick to make flat paper look three-dimensional. Want to see how this technique works in other prints? Look up *cross-hatching*.
A German artist from the late 1500s drew lively scenes of knights clashing in parades and mock battles.
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