Bow Embellished with Flowers
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white drawing of a fancy bow tied in a big loop. The bow has a wide, flat center piece covered in tiny floral patterns. Around it, six long, triangular pieces fan out like petals, each packed with more swirling leaves and flowers. The edges are scalloped, and the whole thing looks stiff and decorative. The paper has a textured look, like old paper with a grid pattern underneath. That’s because it’s an *engraving*—the artist carved the design into metal, then pressed ink into it. Next, check out engraving to see how artists made detailed prints like this.
