Hercules Killing Cacus
1588
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1588
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Hercules Killing Cacus is a 1588 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a chaotic scene with a muscular man in the center, wrestling with snakes and tangled bodies. The dark background makes the figures stand out in rough, textured lines. Some people in the background watch, while others struggle on the ground. The artist used only two shades—dark brown and black—to create depth and drama, a technique called *chiaroscuro*. Look up woodcut to see how this print was made.
