Part 1, Plate 1, from the series Archetypa studiaque (Archetypes and Studies)

Part 1, Plate 1, from the series Archetypa studiaque (Archetypes and Studies)

Jacob Hoefnagel

1592

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a bunch of creepy-crawlies and plants. A big beetle sits in the middle, surrounded by smaller bugs, spiders, and a snail. Leaves and flowers fill the corners, and everything looks drawn with sharp lines. The artist packed a lot of detail into tiny spaces. Each bug has its own spot, and the lines create texture without color. Want to see more like this? Check out engraving next.

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