Melpomene
1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Melpomene is a 1592 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a woman sitting with her legs crossed, one arm resting on her knee and the other behind her. She wears a loose, draped robe and has her hair pulled back. A scroll lies on the floor beside her, and the background is dark with no clear setting. Her pose looks calm but a little tense, like she’s waiting. The lines in the print are super detailed, especially in her face and hands. This is an example of engraving—check out how the artist used tiny lines to create shadows and texture.
