Cliff on a Seashore
1594
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1594
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows two tall, jagged cliffs rising from a rough, choppy sea. The waves crash against the rocks, and the sky above is a swirl of light and dark lines. The whole scene is made with just a few colors—mostly browns and blacks—giving it a grainy, textured look. The artist used a method called *chiaroscuro*, which means playing shadows and light against each other to create depth. This print looks almost like an etching, but it’s actually carved wood. Next, look up woodcut to see how this technique works.
