1648
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Five Butterflies and a Moth is a 1648 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows five butterflies and one moth drawn in black and white. Their wings have detailed patterns—some look like stripes, others have spots or patches. The moth in the center stands out with its fuzzy body and simpler wing design compared to the butterflies. The artist used a technique called *etching* to create these sharp lines and textures. This method involves scratching into a metal plate before inking and printing. Check out more about the technique: etching to see how it works.
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
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