Judgment of Paris

About this work

This sketch shows a chaotic forest scene with three women and a man on horseback. The woman on the left stands naked, holding something in her hand. The other two women wear flowing robes and seem to be arguing near a tree. A man in armor rides a horse, surrounded by tangled roots and small animals. The background has buildings and more trees, but everything looks dark and busy. Notice how the artist used only black lines and shading to create depth—no colors at all. This was a common way to make prints back then. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and shadow like this.